Apitope International BV has issued an update on its immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis which is being developed with Merck Serono. A second Phase 1 trial met its safety and tolerability endpoint and showed a significant decrease in new lesions.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc has announced that its investigational immunotherapy for melanoma that targets the MAGE-A3 antigen, did not meet its first co-primary endpoint in a Phase 3 study of patients with the disease.
AstraZeneca Plc has enrolled the first patient in a Phase 3 development programme for olaparib in patients with ovarian cancer. Olaparib was discontinued in this indication in 2011 but is now being re-started in patients with BRCA-mutated disease.
A Phase 3 study of vercirnon, an investigational drug for patients with Crohn’s disease, has failed to meet its primary endpoint of improvement in clinical response, and a secondary endpoint of clinical remission, GlaxoSmithKline Plc said.
Medivir AB has announced plans to discontinue development of one type of hepatitis C virus drug in order to concentrate exclusively on nucleotide-based polymerase inhibitors. It will discontinue work on NS5A replication complex inhibitors.
Eli Lilly and Company said that a Phase 3 study of its-antibody therapy, necitumumab, has met its primary endpoint of overall survival in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Necitumumab is designed to block the ligand binding site of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Researchers from Ireland have reported that the probiotic B. infantis 35624 relieved symptoms in three inflammatory disorders underscoring the role that the gut microbiota plays in human health. The study appears in the July/August issue of Gut Microbes.
Novo Nordisk A/S said it expects to start a cardiovascular outcomes trial for the diabetes drug Tresiba (insulin degludec) late this year in order to satisfy requirements by the US Food and Drug Administration which turned down the drug in February.
A Phase 3 study of Afinitor (everolimus) in patients with metastatic liver cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival, Novartis announced on 7 August. The Swiss multinational said it won’t seek to register the drug for this indication.
Cytos Biotechnology Ltd of Switzerland said that top-line data from a Phase 2b clinical study of its lead product for allergic asthma should be available during the second quarter of 2014. The trial is taking place in eight countries.