Drug That Failed as Leukemia Treatment Now Studied for Rheumatoid Arthritis

A developmental drug that did not achieve its goals as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia is now being studied as a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

BreasGen Ltd said researchers at Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia have begun testing the compound E21R on up to 13 patients who have had arthritis for at least six months and are not responding to standard therapy.

Dr. Chris Juttner, vice president of clinical development of BresaGen, said "the drug acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in blocking the growth activation and survival of the white blood cells which cause inflammation and damage in the rheumatoid joint."

Last month, BresaGen and British Biotech ended their partnership on clinical trials of E21R to treat acute myeloid leukaemia after data suggested they were unlikely to meet their goals.

Other sources: BresaGen