Some 300 clinical trials are underway in Europe testing prospective cell, gene and tissue-engineered therapies. Known as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), these medicines are being investigated for a broad range of diseases- from macular degeneration to Parkinson’s disease.
Ablynx NV said that fresh data from a trial of its anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha antibody for rheumatoid arthritis, ozoralizumab (ATN-103), has shown some promising results, at least one of which was unexpected.
InDex Pharmaceuticals AB of Sweden said that data from a compassionate use programme of its experimental therapy for treating ulcerative colitis has been published in the journal, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Noxxon Pharma AG has started a Phase 2a trial of an oligonucleotide-based drug for patients with diabetic nephropathy. The drug, NOX-E36, aims to bind and neutralise MCP-1, a protein that is involved in inflammation.
Erytech Pharma SA has reported Phase 2 data for a new formulation of asparaginase, in combination with chemotherapy, showing the drug was safe and effective in older patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) for whom no alternatives exist.
Wilex AG said that a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial of its cancer therapy, Mesupron combined with capecitabine, was more effective than capecitabine alone in patients with HER2-receptor negative metastatic breast cancer.
Zealand Pharma A/S and its partner, Sanofi SA, have presented further data supporting their candidate treatment for Type 2 diabetes, lixisenatide (Lyxumia). Lixisenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist.
Eli Lilly and Company said that a Phase 2b study of baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor being developed for rheumatoid arthritis, reached its primary endpoint by showing a statistically significant response as measured by a scoring system.
Affiris AG has started a Phase 1 study of a new vaccine for Parkinson’s disease which it says is aimed at modifying the disease rather than treating symptoms. The programme has received financial support from the Michael J Fox Foundation.
Addex Therapeutics Ltd said that its partner, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc (Johnson & Johnson), is to start a Phase 2 study of an allosteric modulator for major depressive disorder, with anxiety symptoms. The same drug is being studied in schizophrenia.