Roche, Biogen Halt Arthritis Study

Luke Timmerman3/8/10

Roche and Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec are halting development of an experimental drug for rheumatoid arthritis because of safety concerns, according a report today by Bloomberg News. The drug, ocrelizumab, was designed to hit the same protein target on cells as the hit antibody ritxumimab, (Rituxan), albeit in a form thought to be more conducive for chronic autoimmune diseases than rituximab, which was originally developed as a cancer drug. Still, the new medicine was linked to “serious and opportunistic infections,” some of which were fatal, Basel, Switzerland-based Roche said today in an e-mailed statement cited by Bloomberg. The drug is still being tested for multiple sclerosis, according to the Bloomberg report.

Luke Timmerman is the National Biotech Editor of Xconomy, and the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. E-mail him at ltimmerman@xconomy.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ldtimmerman.