Gevokizumab
| Monoclonal antibody | |
|---|---|
| Type | Whole antibody |
| Source | Humanized (from mouse) |
| Target | Interleukin 1β |
| Clinical data | |
| ATC code | None |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number |
1129435-60-4  |
| ChemSpider | None |
| UNII |
QX3JU54GYQ  |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C6442H9962N1710O2010S52 |
| Molar mass | 145.2 kg/mol |
| (what is this?) (verify) | |
Gevokizumab is a potent monoclonal antibody, developed by XOMA Corporation, with unique allosteric modulating properties and the potential to treat patients with a wide variety of inflammatory and other diseases. Gevokizumab binds strongly to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and modulates the cellular signaling events that produce inflammation. IL-1 beta has been shown to be involved in diverse array of disease states, including non-infectious uveitis (including Behçet's uveitis), cardiovascular disease, and other auto-inflammatory diseases.
Clinical trials
Gevokizumab currently is being studied in a global Phase 3 clinical program, termed EYEGUARD™, which is being conducted by SERVIER and XOMA. This program is designed to determine gevokizumab's ability to treat acute non-anterior non-infectious uveitis (NIU) in EYEGUARD-A, to prevent disease flares in patients with Behçet's uveitis in EYEGUARD-B, and to prevent disease flares in NIU patients who are controlled with steroids and immunosuppressants in EYEGUARD-C.
XOMA has a Proof-of-Concept (POC) program underway in which the Company is exploring the efficacy and safety of gevokizumab in multiple indications. The Company reported promising data in January 2013 from the interim analysis of a Phase 2 study in moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Data from the National Eye Institute's study of gevokizumab in patients with active non-infectious anterior scleritis is expected in 2014. XOMA anticipates full results from its two POC studies in patients with erosive osteoarthritis of the hand in the first quarter of 2014. Separately, SERVIER initiated a Phase 2 study to determine gevokizumab's ability to reduce arterial wall inflammation in patients with marked atherosclerotic plaque inflammation and who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome in the previous twelve months, as well as POC studies in polymyositis/dermatomyositis, giant cell arteritis, and Schnitzler syndrome. Information about gevokizumab clinical studies can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu.
In July 2015 the drug suffered a Phase III failure in patients with Behçet's disease uveitis was a bust. The drug failed to meet the primary endpoint; time to first acute ocular exacerbation in the EYEGUARD-B trial.[1] And the company has been in this uncomfortable position before with its lead therapy. Gevokizumab also failed in a Phase II study for erosive osteoarthritis less than a year previously. As a result, the company's shares fell by 75%.[2]