Pfizer has suspended two studies in its clinical programme for investigational compound tanezumab at the request of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA asked that the trials – one for chronic low back pain and the other for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy – be suspended following reports of adverse events in osteoarthritis patients taking tanezumab.

Pfizer called off studies on tanezumab in patients with osteoarthritis in June 2010.

The watchdog raised concerns over the compound’s potential for such events in other patient populations being studied; tanezumab, however, continues to be investigated in other areas with unmet medical needs.