MedImmune Inc has decided to terminate phase 2 testing of Vitaxin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis based on preliminary data suggesting lack of clinical benefit in these inflammatory diseases. There were no safety concerns identified in the preliminary analyses.

MedImmune's oncology programme for Vitaxin continues to advance with studies in melanoma and prostate cancer, according to a company release.

Vitaxin targets the alpha-v beta-3 integrin, which is a protein expressed on the surface of newly forming blood vessels, certain tumour types and on a number of other cell types, including macrophages and osteoclasts. Based on preclinical models, the alpha-v beta-3 integrin has been implicated in a number of disease processes, including the growth and metastasis of tumours, the bone destruction in RA and the inflammatory process in psoriasis.

MedImmune, headquartered in Maryland, is focused on the areas of paediatric infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases.