Etrasimod UC trial hints at early vindication of Pfizer's Arena buy

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has announced positive top-line results from a Phase III study of etrasimod in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Etrasimod is an investigational, oral, once-a-day, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator that the US pharma giant picked up in its $6.7 billion buy of Arena Pharmaceuticals, announced only in December.

"Etrasimod, if approved, could be a potential breakthrough option"In the study, etrasimod patients achieved statistically-significant improvements in the primary endpoint of clinical remission at week 12 as compared with placebo.