Galapagos bowel drug fails in research trial

Last Updated: 2016-01-26

By Reuters Staff

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian biotech group Galapagos said its experimental drug to treat ulcerative colitis failed to show a benefit in a phase 2a trial and it would discontinue the programme for that disease.

While the drug GLPG1205 was well tolerated, Galapagos said it did not perform better than the placebo given to another group of patients.

"The ORIGIN study results showed that GLPG1205 did not statistically significantly differentiate from placebo on(partial) Mayo scores. GLPG1205 was shown to be overall safe and well-tolerated by ulcerative colitis patients in the ORIGIN study. Further details about the ORIGIN study will be published later during 2016," according to a Galapagos news release.

"Galapagos will evaluate whether GLPG1205 will be developed in alternative indications," the group said.