|
CHICAGO, June 22 (Reuters) - Human Genome Sciences Inc. said on Thursday that a mid-stage trial of its lupus treatment failed to meet the study's goals, but that secondary measures were promising.
The company, which had disclosed last October that it missed the main target of the trial, said indicators including a "combined response rate" and quality of life assessment showed the treatment reduces disease activity.
Shares rose 1.9 percent in premarket activity after closing at $10.13 on Wednesday on Nasdaq.
The Rockville, Maryland-based biotech company said the trial of LymphoStat-B in systemic lupus erythematosus studied 449 patients, and was found to be safe and well-tolerated.
Full results were presented at a rheumatology conference in Amsterdam. In October, the company announced that it failed to show that the drug reduced signs and symptoms of the chronic inflammatory disease over a 24-week period and it did not increase the time to the first flare up of the disease over a 52-week period -- primary goals of the trial.
That news sent the stock tumbling more than 30 percent.
The company said it expects to start a late-stage trial this year.
Lupus causes swelling in organs, joints, tendons and other connective tissues and symptoms can flare up intermittently.
|
Message
Boards
