Monday, June 8, 2009

Dyax lands positive results in DX-88 analysis

By Mass High Tech staff

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Cambridge drug developer Dyax Corp. analyzed Phase 3 studies of DX-88 (ecallantide), a recombinant small protein and selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor, and found the drug relieved acute attacks of hereditary angiodema (HAE), a rare and sometimes fatal disease. The analysis follows two Phase 3 trials Dyax conducted.

Compared to a placebo, DX-88 relieved HAE symptoms for up to 24 hours, offered no side effects and treated patients in the laryngeal, abdominal and peripheral areas.

Prior to the analysis, Dyax conducted its first Phase 3 trial, EDEMA3, and second Phase 3 trial, EDEMA4, resulting with fewer patients showing HAE symptoms after taking DX-88, the company said in a press release. In total, the drug has been tested in five trials.

HAE is a condition marked by inflammatory cases of painful swelling. It is caused by low levels of a molecule that blocks plasma kallikrein in the blood.

DX-88 has been the main focus of Dyax, which cut 60 jobs in March in order to focus its resources on the commercialization of the drug, using its savings. At the time, the company cut the positions from different departments and said the cuts would help it save about $18 million in annual savings.