(The conference jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract was held May 7-10 in Chicago.)

Company (Location)

Product

Description

Indication

Status (Date)#

4SC AG (Martinsried, Germany)

Vidofludimus

An oral inhibitor of interleukin-17

Inflammatory bowel disease

Phase IIa data showed it demonstrated an 88.5% total response rate vs. an average historic placebo response rate of about 20% (5/10)

Alkermes Inc. (Waltham, Mass.)

ALKS 37

A peripherally restricted opioid antagonist

Opioid-induced constipation

Phase II data showed the drug significantly improved gastrointestinal motility, demonstrated by increased frequency of bowel movements, while simultaneously preserving the analgesic effects of opioid treatment (5/11)

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. (Horsham, Pa.; unit of Johnson & Johnson)

Stelara; Remicade

Ustekinumab; infliximab

Crohn's disease

Phase IIb data showed Stelara induced clinical responses at week six in nearly 40% of patients; Phase III data of Remicade showed it included a clinical response in 73% of patients with ulcerative colitis (5/10)

ImmusanT Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.)

Nexvax2

A therapeutic vaccine that combines three peptides that elicit an immune response

HLA-DQ2 genotype celiac disease

Phase I data showed it was well tolerated and induced a T-cell response confirming bioactivity (5/10)

NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Bedminster, N.J.)

Gattex

Teduglutide; recombinant analogue of human glucagon-like peptide 2

Short bowel syndrome-intestinal failure patients

Phase III data showed it was effective and safe (5/11)

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (San Diego)

Dificid

Fidaxomicin

C. difficile infection

Phase III data showed it was associated with a 66% reduction of early recurrence compared with vancomycin (5/10)

Tranzyme Pharma Inc. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.)

TZP-102

An orally administered ghrelin agonist

Diabetic gastroparesis

Phase II data showed all three doses were safe, well tolerated and had efficacy, with the best results at a 20-mg dose (5/11)

Notes:

Public biotech company stock symbols can be found in the stock report located on the last two pages of this issue.

# The date indicated refers to the BioWorld Today issue in which the news item can be found.