Xoma Pharmaceuticals has initiated Phase I clinical testing of its internally developed monoclonal antibody Xoma 052,which targets interleukin-1 beta, in type 2 diabetes patients, the company announced July 16.

IL-1 beta "which plays a role in multiple inflammatory diseases, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes through destruction of pancreatic islet cells that produce insulin," the company said.

Berkeley, Calif.-based Xoma plans to enroll 72 subjects in a U.S. study to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of the mAb. The firm intends to launch a similar European-based study later this year.

Data from both studies will be used to guide Xoma 052 development in other inflammatory disease indications, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and osteoarthritis, Xoma said.

Xoma is more well-known for using its proprietary technology to attract discovery and development partners in lucrative collaborations. In March, Takeda expanded its relationship with Xoma to increase the number of therapeutic antibody programs the two would work on, raising the biotech's potential earnings from the deal to $230 million, not including royalties (¹ Also see "Takeda Expands Antibody Collaboration With Xoma" - Pink Sheet, 1 March, 2007.).

In January, Schering-Plough expanded its mAb collaboration with Xoma in the fourth iteration of their ongoing partnership (² Also see "Schering-Plough Expands Antibody Collaboration With Xoma" - Pink Sheet, 17 January, 2007.). Xoma has similar agreements with Novartis and Lexicon Genetics.

The firm also has royalty interests in Genentech biologics Raptiva (efalizumab ) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) based on use of Xoma's bacterial cell expression technology to produce monoclonal antibodies.

- Shirley Haley (s.haley@elsevier.com)

Xoma Launches Phase I Trial Of Monoclonal Antibody Diabetes Therapy

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