AstraZeneca moves syk kinase inhibitor into Phase III trials

AstraZeneca has enrolled the first patient in the pivotal programme for the first-in-class Syk kinase inhibitor fostamatinib (previously known as R778). Fostamatinib, which it licensed from Rigel Pharmaceuticals, is being evaluated as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with an inadequate response to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate (MTX).