Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) said a clinical trial of its
blood-clotting drug Soliris used to treat kidney transplant
recipients failed to meet its goals.
The Phase 2 trial enrolled 102 patients who received kidney
transplants from living donors. Half of the patients received
Soliris, generically known as eculizumab, and a control group
received standard anti-rejection care, according to Alexion.
Soliris didn't provide statistically meaningful results for those
who received new kidneys and needed it to help prevent antibody
mediated rejection, or AMR, essentially rejecting the transplanted
organ.
There are no approved therapies to treat acute AMR.
Founded in 1992 and based in New Haven, Conn., biopharmaceutical
company Alexion already markets Soliris as a treatment for rare,
life-threatening blood disease and kidney disorders.
Shares fell nearly 5% to $179 in recent after-hours trading.
Through Wednesday's close, the company's stock was up 41% over the
past 12 months.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com
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