Alexion's Defensive Play Poised To Pay Off

The company's long-acting C5 complement inhibitor ALXN1210 demonstrated non-inferiority to Soliris in a Phase III trial, which should help the company defend against anticipated competition to its blockbuster franchise.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. scored an important win for its defensive strategy on its all-important Soliris (eculizumab) franchise. The firm's next-generation long-acting C5 complement inhibitor, ALXN1210, performed as well as Soliris in a Phase III clinical trial in treatment-naïve patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) dosed every eight weeks, versus every two-week dosing for Soliris.

Management said it is on track to submit regulatory filings for ALXN1210 in the US, Europe and Japan in the...