* Says treatment difference observed as eraly as week 8
* Drug showed significant reduction in disease activity
June 16 (Reuters) - Immunomedics Inc said its experimental lupus drug showed significant reduction in disease activity in patients in a mid-stage trial.
The study showed the drug, epratuzumab, to improve patients' health as quickly as at week 12 of dosage, with the emergence of improvements as early as at week eight, the company said in a statement.
The primary goal of the study was to measure the drug's combined response index endpoint, including several indices of disease activity, that showed statistical significance compared to a dummy drug.
In both 600 mg and 2400 mg dosage groups, responder rates were twice those of a dummy drug, Immunomedics said.
The drug is being developed by Immunomedics with partner partner Belgium's UCB to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) -- a connective tissue disease that often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system.
Shares of the company closed at $3.44 Tuesday on Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Krishnakali Sengupta in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) Keywords: IMMUNOMEDICS/ (krishnakali.sengupta@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: krishnakali.sengupta.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
* Drug showed significant reduction in disease activity
June 16 (Reuters) - Immunomedics Inc said its experimental lupus drug showed significant reduction in disease activity in patients in a mid-stage trial.
The study showed the drug, epratuzumab, to improve patients' health as quickly as at week 12 of dosage, with the emergence of improvements as early as at week eight, the company said in a statement.
The primary goal of the study was to measure the drug's combined response index endpoint, including several indices of disease activity, that showed statistical significance compared to a dummy drug.
In both 600 mg and 2400 mg dosage groups, responder rates were twice those of a dummy drug, Immunomedics said.
The drug is being developed by Immunomedics with partner partner Belgium's UCB to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) -- a connective tissue disease that often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system.
Shares of the company closed at $3.44 Tuesday on Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Krishnakali Sengupta in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) Keywords: IMMUNOMEDICS/ (krishnakali.sengupta@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: krishnakali.sengupta.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.