Vertex's VX-509 meets RA endpoint

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) said data from a Phase IIa trial of VX-509 to treat rheumatoid arthritis support moving the oral Janus kinase 3 ( JAK-3) inhibitor into Phase IIb testing. Twice-daily 50, 100 and 150 mg VX-509 each met the co-primary endpoint of significantly improving ACR20 response rates at week 12 vs. placebo (61%, 65% and 66%, respectively, vs. 29%; p=0.007, p=0.002 and p=0.002). Those three doses of VX-509 also met the co-primary endpoint of significantly improving DAS28 scores from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo (2.6, 2.7 and 3.06 points, respectively, vs. 1.25 points; p<0.001 for all). The twice-daily 25 mg dose of VX-509 missed both endpoints. ...