Early Results Positive for HuMax-IL15 for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Positive results have been reported from a Phase I/II clinical trial on HuMax-IL15, a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

HuMax-IL15 is a human antibody that shows up early in the events that lead to rheumatoid arthritis.

Genmab reported that patients taking HuMax-IL15 showed improvement according to measurements using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) scale for the evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Thirty patients who had previously failed to respond to disease modifying arthritis drugs (DMARDS) participated in the study. Twenty-four patients were given HuMax-IL15 and six were given a placebo for the initial dose. After a safety evaluation, 23 patients received four additional doses of HuMax-IL15, one per week. During this additional drug cycle, patients who had been given a placebo were switched to treatment with HuMAX-IL15.

"HuMax-IL15 is a novel antibody therapeutic that we believe works in a different manner than products on the market today," said Lisa N. Drakeman, PhD., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "We believe HuMAX-IL15 has the potential to offer real help to the large number of patients currently suffering from rheumatoid arthritis."

Plans for a Phase II study are underway and it is expected to begin before the end of 2002.

Other sources: Genmab A/S