Phase III Study of Rituxan in Lupus Nephritis Did Not Meet Primary Endpoint
OUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) and Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced today that a Phase III study of Rituxan(R) (rituximab) plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids in patients with lupus nephritis did not meet its primary endpoint of significantly reducing disease activity at 52 weeks. The primary endpoint evaluated improvements in kidney response as measured by standard laboratory tests used to assess kidney health. A preliminary analysis of the safety data did not reveal any new or unexpected safety signals in patients receiving Rituxan.