Biotech Values

[madrose1]

Celgene says apremilast demonstrates improvements in ulcers in Behcet’s disease
Celgene International Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene, presented phase II trial results of apremilast, the company’s first-in-class, oral, targeted inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, in patients with Behcet’s disease. The findings were presented at the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals annual meeting in San Diego. These results have been featured as part of the official ACR press program, which highlights data considered representative of the highest quality and most meaningful research presented at the ACR annual meeting. These data, which were also presented at the European League Against Rheumatism annual meeting this year in June, showed that significantly more patients on apremilast achieved a complete response at week 12 compared with those on placebo. Among patients with genital ulcers at baseline (n=16), 100% of those receiving apremilast had a complete response at week 12 compared with 50% of those receiving placebo. The beneficial effect of apremilast on oral ulcers reached a stable effect within two weeks and was sustained while patients remained on treatment. :