Biotech Values

[mcbio]

Re: Pfizer rheumatoid arthritis drug

This is of interest to me as PFE's oral JAK3 inhibitor for RA is probably the top competition for RIGL's oral Syk inhibitor (R788), along with INCY's oral JAK2 inhibitor which is close but not quite as advanced as these two compounds. With respect to efficacy, the ACR20 score is fairly similar to RIGL's efficacy data although it includes numbers from a high dose that won't be carried forward. Also note that the PR does not specifically disclose the ACR50 and ACR70 scores, as RIGL has previously disclosed. Finally, with respect to safety, note that the PFE drug has its own safety profile concerns:

The most common adverse events were mild to moderate urinary tract infection, diarrhea, bronchitis and headaches.

Significant dose-dependent decreases in white blood cells and increases in both good and bad cholesterol were consistent with previous studies of CP-690,550, Pfizer said.