Positive new data for UCB's CDP-870 in RA

Belgian pharmaceutical and chemicals firm UCB has reported promising preliminary data from a second Phase III trial of CDP-870 in rheumatoid arthritis. The agent was designed and developed by the UK's Celltech, which was recently acquired by UCB (Marketletter May 24).

Study 011 evaluated the safety and efficacy of CDP-870 as a monotherapy on signs and symptoms of disease over a six-month period in patients who had active moderate-to-severe RA despite previous therapy with methotrexate and other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Results showed that the trial met its primary endpoint, as assessed by the number of subjects achieving a 20% reduction in the American College of Rheumatology score at 24 weeks. A significant ACR20 response was noted at week 1, the first time point, and maintained throughout the study.