Positive interim Phase III data on itolizumab

US clinical-stage biotech Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) saw its shares rise 8% to $0.68 as it revealed progress with its first-in-class anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody.

Equillium announced a positive recommendation from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) based on its review of the interim results from the Phase III EQUATOR study evaluating itolizumab in subjects with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).

The La Jolla-based firm noted that the IDMC reviewed unblinded data on over 100 patients through Day 29 of treatment from the study, with pre-determined futility and efficacy stopping boundaries, and recommended that the study proceed with continued enrollment, without modifications.