Abgenix's ABX-IL8 fails in RA

Twelve-week results of a placebo-controlled U.S. Phase IIa trial of ABGX's ABX-IL8 in 153 RA patients showed that the product did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant increase in the number of patients achieving ACR20 responses. ABGX said that 34% of patients given ABX-IL8 achieved ACR20 responses compared to 31% of placebo patients, and that the results did not meet ABGX's criteria (a 30 point difference in the percentage of ABX-IL8-treated patients with ACR 20 responses versus placebo patients) for moving forward to a Phase IIb study. As a result, the company said it will discontinue development of ABX-IL-8 for RA. ABX-IL8 also is in Phase II testing for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and metastatic melanoma. ...