Bayer to halt phase 2 trial of hemophilia treatment

BERLIN Bayer Schering Pharma will halt a mid-stage clinical trial of an investigational treatment for hemophilia, the German drug maker announced Monday.

Bayer said an independent analysis of data from the phase 2 trial of the once-weekly infusion BAY79-4980 (recombinant factor VIII) showed that it failed to perform as well as or better than the thrice-weekly Kogenate FS (antihemophilic factor (recombinant)), also made by Bayer, in patients with hemophilia A. There were no concerns raised about safety, the company said.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome of the analysis, we remain committed to developing our long-acting recombinant factor VIII compounds,” Bayer Schering Pharma board of management member and global development head Kemal Malik said. “It is our goal to enable once-weekly prophylaxis dosing as well as other factor therapies, such as BAY VII, a modified recombinant factor VII therapy for hemophilia A and B in patients with inhibitors.”