Pfizer's bowel disease drug succeeds in late-stage study

[March 24, 2022]  (Reuters) -Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday its experimental treatment for an inflammatory bowel disease, acquired last year as part of its $6.7 billion deal for Arena Pharmaceuticals, succeeded in a late-stage trial.

The study was testing the efficacy and safety of etrasimod in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that leads to ulcers causing abdominal pain, bloody stools and incontinence.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a $20 billion market globally, making it a lucrative target for drugmakers.


 

 Pfizer logo seen outside their building in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

Etrasimod met the main goal of statistically significant improvement in remission at week 12 compared to placebo. Statistically significant improvements were achieved in all key secondary goals in the trial as well, the company said.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

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