Biogen Idec Says Long-Lasting Hemophilia Drug Meets Safety Goals

Biogen Idec (BIIB) and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum said a potential hemophilia B treatment has metsafety goals in an early-stage study.

The study involved 14 previously treated patients, and the data showed that the drug, rFIXFc, was well tolerated and demonstrated an approximately three-fold increase in half-life, compared to previous data for existing therapies. That would give provide prolonged protection with a single dose.

The study was presented at the World Federation of Hemophilia Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 11, 2010. Based on this study, the companies said they'll conduct a global registrational trial of the safety and effectiveness of the drug with 75 patients.

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited disorder in which patients have an impaired ability for blood clotting, leading to excessive bleeding. Current treatments require intravenous injections twice a week. This drug, the companies hope, would reduce the injections to once a week.