Savient begins patient dosing for new gout drug

Savient Pharmaceuticals has said it has given the first doses of Puricase, its new drug for gout, to patients for two new phase III trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the drug.

Puricase, designed for treating gout in cases where conventional therapies have failed, is a modified form of recombinant uricase, an enzyme that is responsible for the removal of uric acid, the levels of which are too high patients with gout and lead to painful rheumatic symptoms.

The two studies will involve 60 medical centres throughout Mexico, Canada and the US and they will examine the outcomes of approximately 100 patients each over a six-month period.

Christopher Clement, Savient’s chairman and chief executive officer, said: “The start of patient dosing represents an important step in moving Puricase towards commercialisation.”

“As we have stated previously, our focus and resources are being devoted towards the development of this promising drug for the treatment of severe gout,” he added.

Puricase was discovered by Duke University but was licensed exclusively to Savient.

Gout most commonly affects men between 40 and 60 years of age and is caused when amounts of uric acid in the body become too high. This causes sharp uric acid crystals to form in joints and connective tissues, which can lead to excruciating pain, according to the UK Gout Society.

Historically, gout has been associated with an overindulgent lifestyle as high-protein diets and alcohol can trigger the disease. However, there are other reasons for its occurrence.

© Adfero Ltd