Sanofi and Regeneron report positive rheumatoid arthritis drug trial data

Sanofi and its partner Regeneron have announced positive results from a phase III trial for its investigational drug sarilumab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Involving 1,197 patients who were inadequate responders to methotrexate therapy, the new findings from the SARIL-RA-MOBILITY revealed that sarilumab increased major clinical response rates for at least 24 consecutive weeks and showed sustained improvement in signs and symptoms of the disease after 52 weeks.

Both doses of the investigational drug sarilumab met all three co-primary endpoints in the study, as well as secondary goals. The data suggests sarilumab could represent an important new therapy option for rheumatoid arthritis.

This comes as part of a wider phase III trial programme called SARIL-RA, which has six ongoing clinical studies and is targeted to enrol approximately 2,800 patients.

Dr Mark Genovese, professor at Stanford University Medical Center and lead investigator in the study, said: "Sarilumab showed efficacy in this study at two different doses, both delivered subcutaneously every other week. We look forward to the results of ongoing trials in this comprehensive registration programme."

The drug is the first fully human monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor. The phase III trials of the compound commenced just over a year ago.