Biogen plotting next steps in lupus after latest readout

As Biogen seeks to build its immunology franchise, it became the latest company to post encouraging data in lupus, with BIIB059 meeting the primary endpoints in a Phase II trial to treat both cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) said Tuesday that all three doses of BIIB059, a mAb targeting CLEC4C, showed disease-modifying effects among patients with CLE in the LILAC study, as measured by Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index Activity (CLASI-A) scores. Doses of 50 mg, 150 mg and 450 mg led to CLASI-A reductions of 40.9% (p=0.008), 48.0% (p=0.001) and 42.5% (p=0.001) vs. 14.5% for placebo...