Ablynx jumps on final Phase II RA data

Ablynx N.V. (Euronext:ABLX) jumped EUR 0.81 (12%) to EUR 7.70 on Wednesday after reporting final 24-week data from the Phase II portion of a Phase I/II trial evaluating IV ALX-0061 to treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis. In 24 evaluable patients on a stable background of methotrexate whose treatment regimen remained unmodified throughout the trial, ALX-0061 produced ACR20 response rates at week 24 of 75% in patients who received 1 mg/kg every four weeks, 100% in patients who received 3 mg/kg every four weeks and 75% in patients who received 6 mg/kg every eight weeks. Additionally, the proportion of patients who achieved DAS28 remission -- defined as a DAS28 score of less than 2.6 points -- at week 24 was 50% for 1 mg/kg ALX-0061, 75% for 3 mg/kg ALX-0061 and 63% for 6 mg/kg ALX-0061. ...