25th Nov 2015 11:30
LONDON (Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Wednesday that dosing has begun in its phase III study evaluating sirukumab for the patients with giant cell arteritis.
Giant cell arteritis is a disease characterised by the inflammation of large and medium-sized arteries, mostly in the head and neck, which occurs in people aged 50 or older.
Sirukumab is not currently approved as a treatment for any indication anywhere in the world.
"The use of high-dose steroids to treat giant cell arteritis can cause severe side effects with prolonged use. Alternative treatments are required and we believe sirukumab could be an important option for patients with this disease. The start of our study with sirukumab for GCA, which is currently under investigation for rheumatoid arthritis, marks the progress we are making to apply our knowledge of the underlying cause of a variety of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and explore the potential of our immuno-inflammation pipeline to treat multiple conditions," said Senior Vice President of Glaxo's Immuno-Inflammation research and development Paul-Peter Tak in a statement.
Shares in Glaxo were up 0.7% at 1,352.36 pence Wednesday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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