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Study: Rituxan Eases Joint Pain

Posted on: Thursday, 7 April 2005, 09:00 CDT

Apr. 7--Biogen Idec said yesterday that its cancer drug Rituxan also may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis, based on preliminary data from a late-phase clinical trial.

The drug received regulatory approval in 1997 for the treatment of some forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Massachusetts-based Biogen Idec has sought to expand its use for other conditions. The drug also is being studied as a treatment for lupus and multiple sclerosis.

Biotechnology analyst Jennifer Chao of Deutsche Bank said Rituxan's potential for rheumatoid arthritis patients will be clearer when more information on its effectiveness and long-term effects is available.

"I think the early data are provocative," Chao said. "But we are still in early days."

Rituxan was developed by San Diego's Idec Pharmaceuticals, which bought Massachusetts-based Biogen in 2003. The drug, which Biogen Idec markets with partners Genentech and Roche, generated $1.6 billion in U.S. sales last year.

The companies said they still are analyzing the data and will present their complete findings at an upcoming medical meeting.

Biogen Idec shares closed yesterday at $35.40, up 63 cents.

About 2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which attacks joint tissue and causes severe inflammation, pain and often disability. The trial evaluated the response of 520 patients who did not benefit from prior rheumatoid arthritis treatments.

Patients who received a treatment of Rituxan with an anti-inflammatory drug, methotrexate, for 24 weeks showed a 20 percent improvement in the number of swollen and tender joints compared with a placebo. Both the placebo and Rituxan groups received the anti-inflammatory drug.

The most common side effects included headache and upper-respiratory viral infections. In its currently approved use, Rituxan patients have suffered severe and fatal reactions in rare cases.

"These results continue to support the potential of Rituxan as a new therapeutic option for (rheumatoid arthritis)," Biogen Idec executive vice president Burt Adelman said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing the (study) data in our discussions with the FDA.

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BIIB, DNA, RHHVF, ROG,

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

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