AstraZeneca arthritis drug worse than Humira in study



LONDON |
Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:49am EST


LONDON (Reuters) – An initial rheumatoid arthritis drug from AstraZeneca valid defective to Abbott Laboratories’ Humira in a clinical study, knocking hopes for one of a few late-stage products in a company’s pipeline.

The Phase IIb monotherapy investigate of fostamatinib – that is given as a tablet rather than injected, as is a box with Humira – showed it was not as good as Abbott’s market-leading product in determining arthritis symptoms, AstraZeneca pronounced on Thursday.

The Phase IIb is not a decisive exam for fostamatinib, that AstraZeneca hopes could have an critical purpose to play as a some-more available choice to injectable medicines.

A some-more extensive comment of fostamatinib used in multiple with other drugs is being carried out in pivotal Phase III studies that will news formula in a initial half of 2013, and would form a basement of any regulatory submissions.

AstraZeneca protected fostamatinib from Rigel Pharmaceuticals.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler)

Source: Health Medicine Network