(Reuters) – Belgo-Dutch biotech Galapagos NV and U.S. companion Gilead Sciences Inc will discontinue late-stage trials testing their experimental drug ziritaxestat in sufferers with pulmonary fibrosis, the businesses stated on Wednesday.
An unbiased information committee concluded that the drug’s benefit-risk profile now not supported persevering with the research, the businesses stated.
That is the second setback for the companions and follows Gilead’s resolution in December to not pursue a U.S. approval for filgotinib, an experimental rheumatoid arthritis therapy it was collectively growing with the European firm.
Gilead in 2019 invested $5.1 billion in a serious growth of its partnership with Galapagos, banking on the potential of filgotinib, ziritaxestat and different medicine in growth.
Ziritaxestathas was found by Galapagos and Gilead licensed the rights exterior Europe in July 2019.
Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Enhancing by Sriraj Kalluvila
