Autoimmune diseases are on a rise in today’s fast-paced world. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one such clinical condition in which a patient’s immune system attacks its own tissue, including joints. In many cases, the disease ends up attacks a patient’s internal organs, further causing bone erosion and joint deformity. Owing to prevailing cases worldwide, scientist and biotech firms have enhanced their focus on developing novel drugs that target rheumatoid arthritis.

Gilead Sciences, Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company, and Galapagos NV have reportedly made some advancements in this field. Recently, the two firms announced the Week 52 results from the Phase 3 FINCH 1 & FINCH 3 trials of filgotinib, a new, oral, selective JAK1 inhibitor developed for treating moderate-to-severely active RA (rheumatoid arthritis).

According to reports, the results obtained were consistent and supported the efficacy, safety and tolerability profiles of filgotinib shown in the Week 12 and 24 analyses presented in 2018.

Speaking on the trial, John Sundy, MD, PhD, Senior VP, Inflammation and Respiratory Diseases, Gilead Sciences, said that their firm is motivated by the durability of both the safety and efficacy profiles of filgotinib witnessed in these trials. He said that these data suggest that filgotinib, if approved, could become vital in helping people with rheumatoid arthritis by offering sustained and clinically meaningful responses.

Meanwhile, Dr. Walid Abi-Saab, Chief Medical Officer, Galapagos, claims that results from the FINCH 1 and 3 trials continue to provide consistent evidence to back filgotinib’s use in RA patients. As per Abi-Saab, filgotinib, in the second half of the FINCH 1 & FINCH 3 trials, exhibited the same favorable safety profile seen in the first 24 weeks, which includes similar rates of thrombotic events as prior observed, as well as constant efficacy.

Credible reports cite that detailed Week 52 results from the FINCH 1 & 3 trials will be offered for presentation at a future medical conference. Moreover, Gilead plans to file a NDA (New Drug Application) for filgotinib for the treatment of RA in the United States including the FINCH 1 & FINCH 3 Week 52 data by late 2019.

Source Credit: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191010005875/en/Gilead-Galapagos-Announce-Efficacy-Safety-Results-Filgotinib