This time of the year is often dedicated to clinical result announcements from different companies. Amid many other companies, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) presented their findings on ulcerative colitis at the annual meeting of the Congress of ECCO (European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation).
Histological Improvements
Celgene announced positive results from phase II study on ozanimod for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Followed by the extraordinary results, company’s stock witnessed an intraday growth rate of 2.1% in the market.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase two study took into account a number of factors to evaluate the efficiency and safety of ozanimod against placebo in the patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. The end-result of the study revealed that patients experienced significant histologic improvement when they were given the 1-mg dosage of ozanimod for 8 weeks as well as 32 weeks. As per the reports, ozanimod was way better than placebo in terms of overall health improvement; however, it failed to achieve sustainable significance.
Despite some negative points, scientists are inclined to take the trial process to the next level. They have started evaluating Ozanimod for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in Phase III trial. As soon as they achieve any significant level, they will submit the findings to FDA for approval.
Meanwhile, Pfizer also announced Phase III clinical results of Xeljanz, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, under its Oral Clinical Trials for tofAcitinib in ulceratiVE colitis (OCTAVE) program. Both the trial programs focus on the analyzing efficacy and safety of Xeljanz for those patients who are suffering from ulcerative colitis. The data revealed by the company unveiled that Xeljanz worked better on the patients as compared to placebo.
The senior management teams of both the companies are delighted to announce these updates and hope that they will continue to live up to patients and other stakeholders’ expectations in the future as well.
