Trial Completion Expected in 1999
FREMONT, Calif., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc. ("Abgenix")
(Nasdaq: ABGX) announced today that enrollment is complete in its ongoing
Phase I/II clinical trial of ABX-IL8 in psoriasis. As planned, the
multi-center trial has enrolled 42 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
The trial is placebo controlled and involves a multi-dose, dose escalating
cohort design.
ABX-IL8 is a fully human antibody generated by Abgenix using the
proprietary XenoMouse technology. Abgenix completed a Phase I trial of
ABX-IL8 in 33 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis last year. ABX-IL8
is also being tested in a pilot study with rheumatoid arthritis patients.
"We are pleased with the rapid patient accrual in this Phase I/II study,"
stated R. Scott Greer, president and chief executive officer of Abgenix. "We
expect to complete the study on schedule in the fourth quarter."
ABX-IL8 is being studied in psoriasis because of its potential to
intervene at multiple steps in the disease pathology by blocking
Interleukin-8 ("IL-8"). Scientific studies have shown that IL-8 levels can be
elevated 150 fold in psoriatic tissue when compared to normal tissue. IL-8 is
a cytokine that can cause unwanted inflammation by drawing immune cells into
psoriatic tissue and activating them. IL-8 is also a growth factor for skin
cells that are proliferating in psoriatic tissue. Finally, IL-8 is a potent
angiogenesis factor so it may be contributing to the ingrowth of blood vessels
that nourish psoriatic tissue.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that results in plaques, a thickening and
scaling of the skin accompanied by local inflammation. The disease affects
approximately four to five million patients in the United States and can be
debilitating in its most severe form. Approximately 500,000 psoriasis
patients suffer from a severe enough form of the disease to require systematic
therapy with immune suppressants and ultraviolet phototherapy. The risk of
serious adverse side effects associated with these therapies often requires
the patients to alternate these various therapeutic modalities as a
precautionary measure.
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and intends to
commercialize antibody therapeutic products for the treatment of a variety of
disease conditions, including transplant-related diseases, inflammatory and
autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Abgenix has
developed XenoMouse technology, which it believes enables quick generation of
high affinity, fully human antibody product candidates to essentially any
disease target appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix has collaborative
arrangements with multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
involving its XenoMouse technology. In addition, Abgenix has four proprietary
antibody product candidates that are under development internally, two of
which are in human clinical trials.
Statements made in this press release about the potential of ABX-IL8 as a
treatment for psoriasis, Abgenix's XenoMouse technology, product development
activities and collaborative arrangements other than statements of historical
fact, are forward looking statements and are subject to a number of
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
statements made, including risks associated with the success of clinical
trials, the progress of research and product development programs, the
regulatory approval process, competitive products, future capital requirements
and the extent and breadth of Abgenix's patent portfolio. Please see
Abgenix's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for
information about risks which may affect Abgenix.
SOURCE Abgenix, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.abgenix.com
CONTACT:
investors, Stephanie Seiler, Ph.D.,
212-696-4455, ext. 212 or media, Amy Flood, 415-677-4455, ext.
211, both of Noonan/Russo Communications, for Abgenix; or Kurt
Leutzinger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Abgenix, 510-608-6575
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