Astellas to terminate development of anti-human antibody for RA

Tokyo-headquartered Astellas Pharma today announced that it has decided to terminate the development of its anti-human osteopontin antibody for rheumatoid arthritis, which it was co developing under the development code ASK8007, with Japanese drug developer Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (Kaketsuken)

Astellas said that along with Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltdit had oncluded a worldwide licensing agreement, which granted Astellas the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and market anti-human osteopontin antibodies, for therapeutic use in March 2006.

It further said "Astellas and Kaketsuken carried out Phase I for ASK8007 for RA; however, have concluded terminating the development for the field of RA by evaluating the result of the study comprehensively."

Astellas is now considering a possible application of it to other indications than RA.