BRUSSELS--Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB (UCB) and global
biotechnology firm Amgen Inc. (AMGN) said Wednesday that a trial of
a new drug to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
demonstrated a significant increase in bone mineral density.
The advanced Phase II trial for Romosozumab, which does not yet
have regulatory clearance, showed significant increases in bone
density in the lumbar spine, hip and neck bones, compared with
alternative treatments. The increased bone density were also
observed after three months, the companies said, citing a study
published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Amgen and UCB are collaborating on the development of
Romosozumab for the treatment of bone-related conditions, including
post-menopausal osteoporosis.
"The results of the study demonstrate significantly increased
BMD and stimulation of bone formation with Romosozumab treatment in
women with postmenopausal osteoporosis," said Michael McClung,
M.D., director of the Oregon Osteoporosis Center and lead study
investigator, in a statement issued by the companies.
UCB was up 0.4% at EUR54.38 after the market opened Thursday.
Amgen closed at $114.08 Dec. 31.
Write to Laurence Norman at Laurence.Norman@wsj.com
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