01 december 2020
07:47
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The research results on a small group of patients are early, but encouraging. For Galapagos itself, but also for those who suffer from the rare lung disease.
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Galapagos
was started two years ago with a so-called Phase 2 study to investigate the efficacy of GLPG1205. This is a potential new drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare lung disease.
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In the study, 68 patients received either the drug candidate or a placebo for twenty-six weeks. The results of the early research are positive, Galapagos now says.
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Very lucky
A test on 68 patients in early research, it usually does not make investors’ hearts beat any faster. Yet its importance cannot be underestimated. The potential goldcrest filgotinib, the agent that underpins Galapagos’ billion dollar valuation, traces its roots to such a small proof-of-concept study in, of all places, Moldavia.
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The biotechnology company says it will switch to the next step in the second clinical test phase, where the focus will no longer be on the efficacy (‘proof of concept’) but on the correct dosage.
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Galapagos is already investigating other potential drugs to treat fibrosis. In fact, one of those studies is in phase 3, the last major hurdle for a drug to be commercialized or not.
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Investors have been looking forward to the GLPG1205 study as it is the only clinical trial results expected from the biotech company this year.
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Last summer, Galapagos got another one big booty when the US drug watchdog FDA demanded additional investigations into filgotinib, a Galapagos rheumatism that is seen as the company’s potential goldcrest.
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