Human Genome lupus drug meets study goal

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NEW YORK -Biotech drugmaker Human Genome Sciences reported additional positive results Tuesday for its experimental lupus drug, Benlysta.

Patients who took the injectable drug Benlysta plus a standard treatment for one year had reduced symptoms — including pain, rashes and infections — compared with patients taking standard treatment plus placebo.

The full results — which are being presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Philadelphia Tuesday — confirmed positive preliminary results reported in July. The study show 51.4 percent of patients taking 1 mg of Benlysta for every kilogram of body weight experienced a significant improvement. Of patients who took a larger dose, 10 mg per kilogram, 57.6 percent had a significant improvement. That compared with 43.6 percent for the placebo patients.

Lupus is an inflammatory disease in which the body attacks its own tissue and organs.

The Bliss-52 study involved more than 860 patients in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. The company has said it expects that a second study, taking place in North America, will confirm the positive results in November.

U.K-based GlaxoSmithKline is co-marketing Benlysta, splitting the profits with Human Genome.

Shares of Rockville, Md.-based Human Genome Sciences fell 5 cents to $20.82 in morning trading.

2009-10-20 11:28:08