A U.S. patent has been issued to Immunomedics, Inc. for epratuzumab, a monoclonal antibody under development as a potential new treatment for lupus. In August of 2009, Immunomedics and its partner, UCB of Belgium, reported promising data from a phase IIb clinical study of epratuzumab involving 227 individuals with moderate to severe lupus. Learn more about these results.

Immunomedics granted UCB the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, market and sell epratuzumab for all autoimmune disease indications. UCB is planning to initiate a phase III clinical study of epratuzumab in lupus later this year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its Fast Track Product designation to epratuzumab for the treatment of people with lupus.

Visit the UCB website.

Visit the Immunomedics, Inc. website.

Source
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.