Shares in Human Genome Sciences increased by 277 percent on Monday after the company announced that their lupus drug Benlysta succeeded in a Phase III clinical trial. The announcement surprised many who were skeptical of the drug’s ability to live up to its claims.
In the study, 57.6 percent of patients taking a high dose of Benlysta showed a statistically significant improvement, compared to 43.6 percent of patients who were given a placebo. Of patients taking a low dose, 51.7 percent showed improvement. The drug was generally well tolerated. The study is the first of two late-stage clinical trials requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The second study is slated to take place in November. HGS, which developed the drug with GlaxoSmithKline, is aiming for FDA approval by early 2010. If approved, Benlysta would be the first new lupus drug on the market in 50 years.
Shares in Immunomedics and ZymoGenetics, two other companies developing lupus drugs, also increased on Monday. Immunomedics stock was up 13 percent, while ZymoGenetics went up 11 percent. Both Benlysta and ZymoGenetics’ Atacicept target a protein believed to be instrumental in the development of lupus. Zymogenetics sold the development and marketing rights for Atacicept to Merck last year, but is still eligible to receive royalties on the drug. Other companies developing lupus treatments include Genelabs Technologies, Watson Pharmaceuticals, and VLST Corporation.
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