ChemoCentryx regains vercirnon rights from GSK

ChemoCentryx Inc. (NASDAQ:CCXI) said GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) returned all rights to vercirnon. In August, the pharma suspended the Phase III program for the CC chemokine receptor 9 ( CCR9) antagonist after the product missed the primary and secondary endpoints in the Phase III SHIELD-1 trial to treat Crohn's disease. (see BioCentury Extra, Aug. 23).

ChemoCentryx said it will determine next steps for the program, including the development of vercirnon in maintenance remission in Crohn's disease either alone or with a partner, after evaluating the drug's full clinical dataset. Data from the Phase II/III PROTECT-1 trial to treat CD, showed that vercirnon (formerly Traficet-EN) led to a significantly higher remission rate at week 36 of the study's maintenance period vs. placebo (47% vs. 31%, p=0.01) (see BioCentury Extra, June 1, 2009). ...