Corcept Therapeutics said its experimental drug failed to meet the main goal of a mid-stage trial in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The main goal of the study was to slow the decline in motor skills and other functional criteria, compared to a placebo, as measured by a scale.

The mid-stage trial enrolled 249 patients who received either the placebo or a dosage of 150 milligrams or 300 milligrams of the drug dazucorilant daily for 24 weeks.

Patients who received dazucorilant experienced substantially more gastrointestinal upset at the onset of treatment than those who received the placebo, the company said.

It also added that five deaths were observed in the placebo group, compared to no deaths in patients receiving the 300 mg dose of the drug.

Japanese firm Mitsubishi Tanabe's Radicava, generic drug riluzole, and Biogen's Qalsody are some of the FDA approved amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatments available in the U.S.

Complete results from the study will be presented next year, Corcept said.

The company added that an open-label, long-term extension study will continue and overall survival will be assessed in March 2025 after all patients have completed a year since the onset of treatment.