Positive top-line results for MedImmune RA and lupus treatments

Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) has announced that two key molecules in its global biologics R&D unit MedImmune’s respiratory, inflammation and autoimmune (RIA) portfolio – mavrilimumab and sifalimumab – met their primary endpoints in respective Phase II studies.

Slows RA development

Top-line results from the Phase IIb study of mavrilimumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody that inhibits a key pathway in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), achieved its primary endpoints. In the Phase llb study of a methotrexate inadequate responder RA population (EARTH EXPLORER-1), 326 patients with moderate and severe RA were treated for six months with either mavrilimumab (low, medium or high dose) or placebo in addition to standard methotrexate background therapy. The co-primary endpoints were met, with all mavrilimumab doses confirming the efficacy demonstrated in the previous Phase IIa study (EARTH).