PhaseBio's Phase IIb trial of bentracimab meets endpoint

Cardiopulmonary diseases focussed US firm PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PHAS) saw its shares close down nearly 6% and fall a further 2.9% to $3.93 after-hours yesterday, despite positive mid-stage results for its bentracimab.

The Phase IIb trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 150 subjects receiving bentracimab and 50 subjects receiving placebo after all were pre-treated with dual antiplatelet therapy composed of ticagrelor (AstraZeneca’s [LSE: AZN] Brilinta) and low-dose aspirin.

The Phase IIb pivotal trial was conducted concurrently with the company’s ongoing REVERSE-IT Phase III pivotal trial of bentracimab, as agreed upon with the US Food and Drug Administration following an  End-of-Phase 1 meeting in July 2019. Bentracimab is a novel, recombinant, human monoclonal antibody antigen-binding fragment designed to reverse the antiplatelet activity of ticagrelor in major bleeding and urgent surgery situations.