Cytos Biotechnology AG of Switzerland said that its Phase 2b study of a new compound for moderate to severe allergic asthma failed to meet its primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in an asthma rating test, and the trial is being stopped.
An aptamer drug developed by Noxxon Pharma AG has shown positive results in a Phase 2a study of patients with diabetic nephropathy, a complication of diabetes. The drug, emapticap pegol, had beneficial effects on patients even after the cessation of treatment.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc has decided is to stop a Phase 3 trial of a MAGE-A3 cancer vaccine for patients with non-small cell lung cancer because it has been unable to identify a sub-population that might benefit from the treatment.
A novel gene therapy developed by bluebird bio Inc of Cambridge, Massachusetts has been administered to a patient with beta-thalassemia, a rare blood disorder. The treatment involves an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Daratumumab, a candidate antibody therapeutic developed by Genmab A/S, has reached a second milestone under a collaboration with Janssen Biotech Inc triggering a $22 million payment to the Danish company. Daratumumab targets CD38.
A Phase 3 trial of a MAGE-A3 cancer vaccine has failed to significantly extend disease-free survival in patients with non-small lung cancer – the first and second co-primary endpoints, according to the developer GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
A Phase IV study of bosentan has failed to show that the drug significantly prolongs time to first morbidity or mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) already receiving sildenafil. Bosentan (Tracleer) is marketed by Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Amgen Inc said that its oncolytic virus product, talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC), reduced the size of tumours in patients with metastatic melanoma during a recent Phase 3 trial. The data comes from a retrospective analysis of nearly 4,000 tumour lesions.
An experimental medicine for patients with polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer, has met is primary endpoint in a global Phase 3 trial conducted by Novartis. The treatment Jakavi (ruxolitinib) is an inhibitor of the JAK 1 and JAK 2 tyrosine kinases.
Roche has told a scientific meeting in San Diego that its candidate antibody for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and high levels of periostin has shown promising results in two Phase 2b studies. The antibody, lebrikizumab, targets IL-13.