Idec pulls the plug on Specifid

Poised to begin Phase II and III studies of its Specifid panel of 15 antibodies for B-cell lymphoma, Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp. instead has decided to drop Specifid in favor of its single-antibody pan-B products. The decision was based on a combination of manufacturing issues and return on investment calculations.

The Phase II trial was to test Specifid as a single-agent therapy in histologic converters, a subset of lymphoma patients with a poor prognosis because their lymphomas have converted to a more aggressive form. The Phase III trial was to extend the duration and quality of remission in low-grade lymphoma patients treated with chemotherapy...