Vertex's VX-509 meets in Phase IIb RA trial

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) said all four doses of VX-509 plus methotrexate for 24 weeks each met the co-primary endpoints of improving ACR20 response rate and DAS28 scores from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo in a Phase IIb trial to treat active rheumatoid arthritis (p<0.001 for all). The double-blind, international trial enrolled 358 patients with active RA who had an inadequate response to methotrexate to receive once-daily 100, 150 or 200 mg VX-509; twice-daily 100 mg VX-509; or placebo. Data are slated to be presented this month at the American College of Rheumatology meeting. ...