Will the FDA Approve Merck's Insomnia Drug?

It's no secret that decisions from the Food and Drug Administration are incredibly hard for investors to predict. Take for instance the FDA's rejection of Novo Nordisk's insulin drugs Tresiba and Ryzodeg in February. The products got the stamp of approval in the EU and Japan -- and approval in the United States seemed like a foregone conclusion -- but the FDA surprisingly decided that data from a cardiovascular outcomes study is necessary before the company can resubmit its application.

Investors were surprised after the decision was announced, and the same situation could happen when the FDA makes a decision on Merck's insomnia drug Suvorexant this summer. So far, the data suggests that this drug works well in patients and has a good safety profile. However, does the scientific advisory committee have any concerns with this drug's safety? What could a rejection potentially mean for Merck investors? Health care analyst Max Macaluso discusses these questions in the following video.

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The article Will the FDA Approve Merck's Insomnia Drug? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Max Macaluso, Ph.D. has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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