(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Tuesday reported positive results from phase III Tulip 2 trial for anifrolumab, which demonstrated superiority across multiple efficacy endpoints versus placebo.
Anifrolumab is a potential new medicine for the treatment of moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
The FTSE 100-listed drugmaker said anifrolumab achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in disease activity at week 52, with 48% of patients receiving anifrolumab responding compared with 32% of patients on placebo.
The Tulip 2 trial also showed "statistically significant" differences in multiple secondary endpoints, Astra noted.
The Cambridge-headquartered company had previously reported that Tulip 1 did not meet its primary endpoint. However, analyses of secondary endpoints show efficacy in reduction in oral corticosteroids use and improvement in skin disease activity.
"There has only been one new medicine approved for systemic lupus erythematosus in the last 60 years, which is why we are so excited to see the positive Tulip 2 results," said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals Research & Development unit at Astra.
Pangalos added: "There is now a strong body of evidence demonstrating the benefit of anifrolumab, and we look forward to bringing this potential new medicine to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as soon as possible."
Astra shares were trading marginally higher in London on Tuesday morning at 7,253.00 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com
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