Anthera Pharma's Phase 3 Study Of Blisibimod For Lupus Fails To Meet Endpoint

(RTTNews) - Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ANTH) Thursday announced that the Chablis-SC1 clinical trial with blisibimod for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus failed to meet its primary endpoint.

According to the company although 47 percent of patients in the blisibimod arm versus 42 percent of patients in the placebo arm achieved the endpoint, the difference was not statistically significant. The end point was based upon the SLE Responder Index-6 at 52 weeks. The magnitude of blisibimod treatment effects for other SLE Response of SRI-4, and SRI-8 also did not achieve statistical significance.

William Shanahan, Anthera's Chief Medical Officer said, "We are disappointed that the results did not demonstrate a meaningful improvement in patients' disease activity as assessed by SRI endpoints."

The Company will continue to analyze the data in the coming weeks from the Chablis-SC1 trial in consultation with key lupus disease thought leaders to expeditiously determine the future of the blisibimod lupus program including the on-going CHABLIS 7.5 clinical study.