"Earlier this month, Merck announced that it had licensed Depomed's AcuForm technology for a combination product with Januvia. Depomed is set to report three phase III trials in October of this year."


It is unclear if Depomed is actually doing phase III trials on a carbi/levo product, or if the phase III studies mentioned above are with other drugs using their proprietary AcuForm timed-release technology. If you look at their pipeline of new prducts using this technology, there are two or three others already in phase III trials. http://www.depomedinc.com

The fact that Merck has licensed that technology makes me wonder if they are already doing the phase III trial with the intent of abandoning Sinemet CR in favor of marketing this newer formulation. It would be a great excuse for jacking up the price of the drug.