Weak interim data prompt Lilly to drop mid-stage RA candidate

Indianapolis, USA-based Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and South Korea’s Hanmi Pharmaceutical (OTC: HANPF) have shut down a Phase II trial testing the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor HM71224 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

While the firms have not made any public statement at this time, local press are reporting that Hanmi filed a note indicating Lilly had nixed the trial “because interim results showed that the study could fail to demonstrate its target effectiveness.”

In 2015 the firms agreed a deal worth up to $690 million to co-develop the candidate, which was brought through early stage testing by Seoul-headquartered Hanmi. Lilly paid $50 million upfront for rights outside of Asia.