Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

XOMA—If the IL-1 drugs were rejected in gout (where both had very strong efficacy) then I don't think it likely that using them in acne (or, by extension, another IL-1 drug) is likely to get approval. Hence my puzzlement over even trying in that indication.

Your argument overlooks dosing differences between the various IL-1 drugs and the various trials! As piggerpig noted in #msg-85635600, the Gevokicumab trial in acne used low doses, which were weight-based; the higher of the two doses tested was 0.6mg/kg, which equates to a fixed dose of 45mg on average for the patients in that trial arm. This is 1/3 less than the 60mg dose being tested in EYEGUARD-B (for Behçet’s uveitis).

If the acne program advances to phase-3, XOMA may seek to use a fixed dose rather than a weight-based dose; if so, the fixed dose will likely be less than 60mg.

p.s. XOMA has not yet committed to advancing the acne program to phase-3.