ZymoGenetics' atacicept misses RA endpoint

ZymoGenetics Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) said atacicept missed the primary endpoint of a significant proportion of patients achieving ACR20 response vs. placebo at week 26 in a pair of double-blind Phase II trials to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The company disclosed in an SEC filing that atacicept did not meet the pre-specified level of disease control activity to support moving directly into Phase III testing and that further analyses are under way. ZymoGenetics said that partner Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) has not made a final decision regarding RA as an indication for atacicept. ...