Eli Lilly and Company LLY and partner Incyte Corportation INCY announced positive top-line results from RA-BEAM, the fourth phase III study on baricitinib, which is being evaluated in patients with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The primary endpoint of demonstrating superiority compared to placebo after 12 weeks of treatment based on ACR20 response was met. Baricitinib was also found to be superior to Humira (adalimumab) on key secondary endpoints like ACR20 response and improvement in DAS28-hsCRP score after 12 weeks of treatment.
After 24 weeks of treatment, baricitinib was superior to placebo in preventing progressive radiographic structural joint damage. The treatment benefits observed at 12 and 24 weeks were maintained through 52 weeks of therapy.
This is the fourth phase III study on baricitinib to generate positive results. The positive RA data comes just a couple of days after Eli Lilly suffered a setback related to the development of its late-stage CETP inhibitor (Read more: Lilly (LLY) Halts CETP Inhibitor Development, Shares Tumble).
Meanwhile, Eli Lilly announced a preclinical research collaboration with an immune imaging company, ImaginAb Inc., under which novel T-cell-based immuno-oncology therapies will be evaluated.
The deal allows ImaginAb to conduct preclinical research using its immune imaging agent, IAB22M2C, to detect T-cell trafficking, redirection and infiltration in response to Eli Lilly’s oncology molecules with the former retaining ownership of the proprietary imaging agents used under the collaboration.
While the financial terms of the agreement were undisclosed, we note that IAB22M2C is a PET-based imaging agent that detects CD8-positive T-cells and provides a whole-body picture of immune response. This will enable better patient selection and mechanistic understanding of immune-modulating treatments.
Eli Lilly is actively pursuing deals to boost its oncology pipeline that targets a broad range of cancers including breast, colorectal, gastric, skin, bladder, brain, pancreatic, liver and lung cancer. Some immuno-oncology focused deals include a deal with Merck & Co. Inc. MRK among others.
We note that the development of T-cell based immunotherapies has been attracting a lot of attention lately with several companies eyeing to enter this field. Juno Therapeutics Inc. JUNO is among the major players in the field of T-cell-based immunotherapy.
Eli Lilly is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Incyte is a better-ranked stock in the health care sector carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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