GlaxoSmithKline announces positive data from Benlysta phase III trial

GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences have announced that a phase III trial involving Benlysta (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-B) has met its primary endpoint.

In a joint statement, the two organisations explained that the placebo-controlled Bliss-52 study involved patients with serologically-active systemic lupus erythematosus.

The results of the trial showed that the therapy, in addition to standard of care, achieved a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the response rate of patients after a period of 52 weeks in comparison to standard of care alone.

In addition, the study indicated that the therapy was, for the most part, well tolerated.

Carlo Russo, senior vice-president of biopharm development at GlaxoSmithKline, said that lupus is a condition that affects an estimated five million people around the world and can be fatal.

“Benlysta is the first medicine being developed specifically for lupus that has reached this late stage of clinical development with positive results,” he added.

Earlier this month, the company announced that the World Health Organization granted prequalification to its cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix.