Lupus Treatment

[dejr_8]

Hopefully this makes it to market

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...07/19/AR2009071902019.html?hpid=moreheadlines

An experimental drug that aims to treat people afflicted with the autoimmune disease lupus showed promising results in its latest round of tests, giving its Rockville-based developer hope that it may have a financial success on its hands.

Human Genome Sciences is set to report the new results on Monday. The drug, called Benlysta, is the first new treatment for lupus in decades to show potential this far into tests with human patients.

"This is just a wonderful outcome, we're delighted," said David C. Stump, HGS's head of drug development. "Patients have been looking for a new medication for 50 years."

If the next round of tests go well, HGS plans to file for Food and Drug Administration approval early next year. The drug could become available late in 2010. The company has not determined how much it will charge for the treatment.

Wall Street analysts believe the drug could be worth billions of dollars for the firm and its partner in developing it, GlaxoSmithKline, if Benlysta makes it to the market.

Given a history of failure in developing drugs for lupus, many Wall Street analysts did not anticipate favorable news.

"We believe odds are against a robust data set," wrote analyst Jason Kolbert of ThinkEquity in a note to investors last week. Kolbert predicted that an unlikely positive announcement from HGS could eventually send the company's stock, which had been trading at under $3 for much of the year, to over $15.