AZN discontinues sepsis product after Phase IIb miss
BTG plc (LSE:BTG) said partner AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) discontinued development of AZD9773 ( CytoFab) after the compound missed the primary endpoint in a Phase IIb trial to treat severe sepsis and/or septic shock. BTG said AstraZeneca will return all rights to the polyclonal sheep antibody fragment against TNF alpha, which did not improve the number of ventilator free-days over 28 days vs. placebo in about 300 patients. BTG added that AZD9773 did not show significant improvements compared to placebo on secondary endpoints, including mortality.
AstraZeneca had worldwide rights to develop and commercialize AZD9773 from Protherics Inc., which BTG acquired in 2008. BTG also said it does not plan to conduct further development of AZD9773. Due to the discontinuation, BTG expects to record a L28 million ($44 million) charge for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. BTG was up 5p to 343p on Wednesday. ...