UCB reports efficacy of Cimzia as rheumatoid arthritis treatment

UCB has announced the presentation of positive clinical trial data at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Barcelona regarding the use of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Cimzia is a PEGylated Fc-free anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) currently being investigated as a treatment for a number of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Results of the key Rapid-1 and Rapid-2 trial disclosed at the congress revealed the efficacy of the compound in relieving the signs and symptoms of the condition when administered as a combination treatment with methotrexate therapy, compared to treatment with methotrexate alone.

Furthermore, data from the 011 study showed that active rheumatoid arthritis patients who have already failed therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs receiving the compound as a monotherapy once every four weeks showed a greater reduction in symptoms compared to those receiving placebo.

Edward Keystone, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, described these trial results as significant.

“They showed, for the first time, that the Fc region present in conventional anti-TNFs is not required for activity in rheumatoid arthritis,” he said.

He added that it is the Fc region that has often been connected to cellular cytotoxicity.

In December 2006, UCB announced its “absolute confidence” in the safety and efficacy of Cimzia.