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news.Sanofi's Genzyme has started enrolling patients in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial (EMPIRE) of its investigational infusion therapy vatelizumab in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
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Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system.
The EMPIRE trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of vatelizumab versus placebo in RRMS patients.
The 12-week trial is expected to enroll around 168 patients at 55 sites in ten countries.
The humanized monoclonal antibody vatelizumab, targets VLA-2, a collagen-binding integrin expressed on activated lymphocytes.
Charles University Prague Department of Neurology, First Medical Faculty Dr Eva Havrdova said: "Continuous inflammation and neurodegeneration from the onset of multiple sclerosis can lead to significant disability.
"The EMPIRE trial should enable us to assess vatelizumab’s ability to impact the acute inflammatory components of MS and evaluate its potential as an effective MS treatment."
The company has partnered with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for the development of vatelizumab to treat MS.