Biogen Idec announces negative top-line baminercept results

Biogen Idec has announced the top-line results of its phase II clinical trial of baminercept (BG9924, LT-Eszett R-Ig) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Baminercept was administered to patients who have not shown an adequate response to conventional treatment with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

The firm said the compound did not meet its primary endpoint of the proportion of patients treated with the drug achieving an ACR50 response compared to those administered with placebo.

Furthermore, the trial did not meet any of its pre-set secondary endpoints.

The company said it would continue to analyse these results and would submit the data for presentation at a future medical meeting.

“Based on these results as well as preliminary data from a phase II trial of baminercept in RA patients who have had an inadequate response to a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, the company has decided to discontinue the development of the compound in RA,” Biogen Idec added.

Earlier this week, Biogen Idec announced the publication of phase III study data for Rituxan (rituximab) as a combination treatment with chemotherapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The treatment was found to improve progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone.