Galapagos Glides Towards Triple Combo Studies In Cystic Fibrosis

Galapagos NV has reported positive topline data from the Phase II ALBATROSS study with its potential cystic fibrosis therapy, the C1 corrector, GLPG2222, that bodes well for the biotech's plans to start Phase II studies of triple combinations of its investigational cystic fibrosis therapies, in collaboration with its US partner AbbVie Inc.

The positive results also move the Belgian company forward in its race to catch up with the US company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the development of triple combinations of cystic fibrosis therapies – cystic fibrosis market leader Vertex achieved $550m in sales from cystic fibrosis therapies in the third quarter of 2017, including $213m in Kalydeco (ivacaftor) sales and $336m in Orkambi (ivacaftor/lumacaftor) sales, and expects to enter pivotal trials in 2018 with triple combinations