Trubion Starts Lupus Trial

Luke Timmerman3/25/09

Trubion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TRBN), said today it has started a clinical trial of a drug for lupus, an autoimmune disease. The drug, SBI-087, is made to hit a target called CD20, that’s currently blocked by Genentech and Biogen Idec’s rituximab (Rituxan) for patients with a different form of autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. The Trubion drug-which is also being tested for rheumatoid arthritis—is being developed in partnership with Madison, NJ-based Wyeth.

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.