Biotech Values

[DonShimoda]

XOMA Announces Servier Has Initiated a Proof-of-Concept Gevokizumab Study in Patients With a History of Acute Coronary Syndrome

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Corporation (Nasdaq:XOMA) today announced its partner, Servier, has initiated the first Servier-sponsored proof-of-concept study in a cardiovascular indication. The study has opened for patient enrollment. The study is expected to enroll 45 patients who have experienced Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the past three to twelve months. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous administration of 30 mg gevokizumab as compared to placebo in reducing arterial wall inflammation in patients with marked atherosclerotic plaque inflammation. The primary endpoint Servier will be assessing is the change in the mean target to background ratio (TBR) of the radioactive tracer FDG assessed by PET/CT after three months of treatment. The study also will determine gevokizumab's effect on a number of cardiac and vascular biological blood biomarkers.

"Servier is recognized for its global cardiovascular franchise and is well positioned for developing gevokizumab in cardiovascular disease," stated John Varian, Chief Executive Officer of XOMA. "While Servier has world-wide rights and pays all gevokizumab development costs for cardiovascular indications, XOMA has the option to acquire the U.S. and Japanese rights in this therapeutic area. As Servier develops gevokizumab in cardiovascular indications, it could become significantly more valuable to XOMA."

"Servier is very committed to developing innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases with clear unmet medical needs, such as the Acute Coronary Syndrome. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of gevokizumab may ultimately prove its clinical value in this disease. Servier is delighted by this new and important step in the clinical development of the drug," said Isabelle Tupinon-Mathieu, M.D., Head of Therapeutic Research and Development at Servier.

**Note: A study, published online Dec. 2 in Nature Genetics, provides insights into the molecular pathways causing coronary artery disease.
"Perhaps the most interesting results of this study show that some people may be born with a predisposition to the development of coronary atherosclerosis because they have inherited mutations in some key genes related to inflammation," said Themistocles (Tim) Assimes, MD, PhD, a Stanford assistant professor of medicine and one of the study's lead authors. "There has been much debate as to whether inflammation seen in plaque buildup in heart vessels is a cause or a consequence of the plaques themselves. Our network analysis of the top approximately 240 genetic signals in this study seems to provide evidence that genetic defects in some pathways related to inflammation are a cause." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164436.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29