Plexxikon initiates Phase I clinical trial for oral rheumatoid arthritis agent PLX5622.

Plexxikon Inc announced that dosing began in the first of two Phase I clinical trials with PLX5622, a novel, oral and highly selective Fms inhibitor, targeted for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PLX5622 has been shown in pre-clinical arthritis models to reduce inflammation, reduce cartilage damage and prevent bone resorption. The initial Phase I trial is a single-ascending dose study in 32 healthy volunteers. The second trial is a multiple-ascending dose study in 32 RA patients that will begin once the first cohort of healthy volunteers has been cleared for safety, with continued enrolment in a staggered fashion relative to the …