Biotie's clinical trial was a success [21.1.2010]

Turku-based drug discovery and development company Biotie Therapies reported on Tuesday November 19 that it has successfully completed a clinical trial with its fully human VAP-1 monoclonal antibody (BTT-1023) in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of repeated doses of intravenously administered antibody in 24 rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate treatment response to methotrexate.

– We are very pleased with the good tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile that we saw with BTT-1023 in this study, said Timo Veromaa, President and CEO of Biotie Therapies Corp.

Veromaa believed that the trial data, combined with signals of therapeutic activity, provide a good basis for proceeding into larger therapeutic trials with BTT-1023.

– We plan to analyze and discuss these data with our partner, Roche, to establish the optimal way to continue the clinical development program. We expect a decision from Roche, regarding its option right to in-license BTT-1023 at this stage of development, during the first half of 2010.