Researchers might also be able to design new types of drugs aimed at these receptors that are more effective pain killers.

Vernalis is developing a drug aimed at treating sexual dysfunction in patients taking antidepression medication, and has another for Parkinson's disease.

The law provided exemptions and waivers for applications from small businesses, drugs aimed at orphan diseases, or unmet public health needs.

Amgen saw the same problem a few years ago with patients in a clinical trial for a drug aimed at increasing the production of blood platelets.

It is unclear whether torcetrapib's failure suggests that other drugs aimed at raising the so-called good cholesterol will also face unexpected problems in trials.

A rule was put into effect last year to expedite approval of drugs aimed at countering biological, chemical or radioactive weapons.

It is the first of a crop of drugs aimed at treating psoriasis to come up for government approval.

"Xgeva has a different mechanism of action than currently approved drugs aimed at reducing bone complications from cancer."

Meanwhile, Amgen will license a drug aimed at fighting the insulin resistance that characterizes type 2 diabetes, which accounts for most cases of that disease.

A federal advisory committee recommended that the first drug aimed at treating the cause of the cold rather than just its symptoms not be approved.