An experimental drug made by Genome Sciences Inc. for treatment of lupus has done very well in late-stage trial, a drug that many had for the most part written off because of the extreme difficulty in healing the disease.
There are four types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus and neonatal lupus. Of these, systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common and dangerous form.
The findings were big news and investors’ responses were even larger. Human Genome shares more than tripled in early afternoon trading, up $7.68, or 231%, to $11.
Patients who used the injectable drug Benlysta plus a standard treatment for one year had reduced symptoms — including pain, rashes as well as infections — compared with patients taking standard treatment plus placebo. The study called for more than 860 patients in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.
Benlysta works by suppressing BLyS, a naturally occurring protein in the body that keeps B-cells functioning normally. B-cells produce antibodies that prevent infection, however in patients with lupus, B-cells are stimulated too much and produce too many antibodies that assault the body.
The remaining question for Human Genome is whether the success in the first phase III study of Benlysta predicts a win in the second phase III study, results of which will be announced in November.
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