XOMA released six-month top line results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of XOMA 052 in 74 patients with Type 2 diabetes

BERKELEY, CA, USA | June 8, 2011 | XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA – News), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, released six-month top line results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of XOMA 052 in 74 patients with Type 2 diabetes. The results were as expected based on data from the Phase 2a three-month interim review and the Phase 2b trial. XOMA 052 was well tolerated with no significant differences between the XOMA 052 and placebo groups in observations of adverse events. XOMA 052 continued to show evidence of biological activity as shown by a reduction in levels of C-reactive protein, a biomarker of cardiovascular risk. There were no differences in glycemic control between the drug groups and placebo as measured by hemoglobin A1c levels. This Phase 2a trial was designed as an exploratory trial focused on overall safety and kinetics and was not designed to show statistically significant differences in measures of biological activity.

XOMA 052 and Interleukin-1 Inhibition

XOMA 052 is a potent monoclonal antibody with the potential to improve the treatment of patients with a wide variety of inflammatory diseases and other diseases including cancer. XOMA 052 binds strongly to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in Behcet’s uveitis, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes and other auto-inflammatory diseases. The IL-1 pathway is a well-validated therapeutic target, with three marketed IL-1 inhibitors that have been used by more than 200,000 patients overall. By binding to IL-1 beta, XOMA 052 inhibits the activation of the IL-1 receptor, thereby modulating the cellular signaling events that produce inflammation.

To date, nearly 600 patients have been enrolled in XOMA 052 clinical trials in which XOMA 052 was shown to be well-tolerated, demonstrated evidence of biological activity and had a half-life that may provide convenient dosing of once per month or less frequently. The potential for XOMA 052 has also been demonstrated in in vivo models of beta cell sparing and cardiovascular disease and in an in vitro model using human myeloma or plasma cell cancer cells.

XOMA has completed a successful proof-of-concept Phase 2 trial of XOMA 052 in patients with Behcet’s uveitis. As previously reported, all seven patients displayed rapid reduction of intraocular inflammation and improvement in visual acuity or other ophthalmic measures after a single treatment with XOMA 052 and following discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine and/or azathioprine. Follow-up results demonstrated that each of the five patients re-treated with XOMA 052 due to a recurring uveitis exacerbation responded again to XOMA 052 treatment and maintained their response for several months. The drug was well-tolerated, and no drug-related adverse events were reported.

About XOMA

XOMA is a leader in the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics. The company’s proprietary product pipeline includes:

* XOMA 052, a potentially best-in-class antibody that binds to the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta, or IL-1 beta. XOMA plans to enter XOMA 052 into Phase 3 clinical development in Behcet’s uveitis, an orphan indication. Les Laboratoires Servier is XOMA’s development and commercialization partner for XOMA 052.
* XOMA 3AB, a novel combination of three antibodies to prevent and treat botulism poisoning caused by exposure to botulinum neurotoxin Type A, among the most deadly bioterror threats. XOMA 3AB is in a Phase 1 clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The XOMA 3AB project has been funded in whole or in part with funds from NIAID, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services under Contract No. HHSN266200600008C, Contract No. HHSN272200800028C, Contract No. HHSN266200600011C and Contract No. HHSN272200800026C.
* A preclinical pipeline with candidates in development for autoimmune, cardio-metabolic, inflammatory and oncologic diseases.

XOMA has a premier antibody discovery and development platform that incorporates an unmatched collection of antibody phage display libraries and proprietary optimization and expression and manufacturing technologies that it uses for its own pipeline and in collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. XOMA technologies have contributed to the success of marketed antibody products including LUCENTIS(R) for wet age-related macular degeneration and CIMZIA(R) for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. XOMA’s fully integrated product development infrastructure extends from preclinical science to approval and is located in Berkeley, California. For more information, please visit www.xoma.com.

SOURCE: XOMA Ltd.