Positioning the RA line-up

While investors have been focused on the coming rivalry in rheumatoid arthritis treatment between anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies being developed by Immunex Corp. and Centocor Inc., dark horse Cypress Bioscience Inc. has been taking a completely different approach with its Prosorba immunoadsorption column. Assuming all three ultimately are approved, the issue will be which therapy proves more attractive to patients and physicians, as well as the marketing clout the three can bring to bear on buyers.

CYPB last week called an early halt to its pivotal trial after an independent monitoring board said the study had reached statistical significance (see BioCentury Extra, Jan. 13). At five months, the 59 patients who completed the full course of 12 weekly treatments plus an eight-week follow-up showed a 45.7 percent response rate (p=0.005 versus placebo) based on a 20 percent improvement in the American College of Rheumatology composite of RA symptoms (ACR20)...