Abivax reports positive interim results for obefazimod

French drug developer Abivax (Euronext Paris: ABVX) today announced the results of an interim efficacy and safety analysis of an open-label maintenance (OLM) study that enrolled patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) at the conclusion of the Phase IIa and Phase IIb OLM studies, where they had received obefazimod 50mg once daily.

Abivax, whose shares edged up 3.1% to 9.59 euros on the news, noted that the data demonstrated maintenance of clinical remission and a safety profile consistent with prior studies of oral, once-daily obefazimod when administered at a reduced dose of 25mg for up to an additional two years.

“These important data further support the potential of obefazimod as a promising therapeutic option for patients with UC,” said Dr Marla Dubinsky, co-director of the Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York. “The results observed at a lower dose are particularly encouraging, as clinicians often like to have the option to de-escalate dosing once patients achieve remission,” she noted.