Blisibimod fails Phase III CHABLIS-SC1 clinical trial to treat SLE.- Anthera Pharma.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the CHABLIS-SC1 clinical trial with blisibimod for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) failed to meet its primary endpoint based upon the SLE Responder Index-6 (SRI-6) at 52 weeks. Although 47% of patients in the blisibimod arm versus 42% of patients in the placebo arm achieved this endpoint, the difference was not statistically significant. The SRI is a composite index comprised of SELENA-SLEDAI, BILAG and Physician Global Assessment criteria. A SRI-6 response requires a decrease of at least 6 points in SELENA-SLEDAI. The magnitude of blisibimod treatment effects for other SLE Response (SRI-4, and SRI-8) also did not achieve statistical significance.

Serum biological markers including B-cells, immunoglobulins, and complement demonstrated statistically significant treatment effects consistent with expectations and previous blisibimod clinical studies in lupus and IgA nephropathy. Adverse events between the blisibimod and placebo treatment arms were well balanced and blisibimod was generally well tolerated.

The Company will continue to analyze the data in the coming weeks from the CHABLIS-SC1 trial in consultation with key lupus disease thought leaders to expeditiously determine the future of the blisibimod lupus program including the on-going CHABLIS 7.5 clinical study. As the pharmacological effects on immunological markers, such as B-cells and immunoglobulins, were as expected, the company is continuing the development of blisibimod for the treatment of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) pending 48 week results from the ongoing phase 2 BRIGHT study. IgAN has a very different pathogenesis than systemic lupus, and the pharmacological activity of blisibimod might prove effective in its treatment. The Company expects to report 48-week data from the BRIGHT-SC IgAN study and topline data from the Sollpura� SOLUTION phase 3 study later this year.