Rigel Pharma's R333 Fails To Meet Primary Endpoint In Phase 2 Study

(RTTNews) - Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(RIGL), Thursday said that its topical dermatological JAK/SYK inhibitor, R333, did not meet the primary endpoint in a recently completed Phase 2 clinical study. The inhibitor was being evaluated as a potential therapeutic for active skin lesions in patients with discoid lupus erythematosus. Rigel has decided not to pursue this indication further with R333.

Further, on its oral SYK inhibitor, fostamatinib,in development for patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura , the company said it expects to start two pivotal Phase 3 studies in the first half of 2014. Each of these trials are expected to enroll about 75 patients who would be treated for six months and have the option to enroll in an extension study. The goal of the trials will be to achieve a durable platelet count increase to over 50,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Rigel expects top line data from these studies in 2015.