Janssen initiates Ph III study of sirukumab, being developed with GSK

24 August 2012

Janssen Biologics (Ireland), part of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), has initiated the Phase III development program for sirukumab (CNTO 136) as part of a collaboration with UK pharma major GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) signed in December 2011. Sirukumab is a human anti-interleukin (IL)-6 monoclonal antibody being studied for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

"We are focused on advancing treatment options for chronic, debilitating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis," said Jerome Boscia, vice president, head of immunology development at Janssen Research & Development, adding: "We are pleased to be collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline on the clinical development of sirukumab, a protein therapeutic that we believe may represent an important treatment option for immunological diseases in the future."

The two studies comprising the Phase III program are:

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