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Ziritaxestat Phase II Success Gives Galapagos Something To Cheer

Silver Lining After Filgotinib Woes

 
• By Kevin Grogan

It has been a tough couple of months for the Belgian biotech since the FDA surprisingly rebuffed its JAK inhibitor filgotinib but promising data on the oral autotaxin inhibitor ziritaxestat helped soften the blow and drive up Galapagos stock.

Sun rays
Ziritaxestat is a bright spot for Galapagos • Source: Shutterstock

After the body blow of the rejection by US regulators of its lead asset filgotinib, a mid-stage success for ziritaxestat for systemic sclerosis (SSc), albeit in a small trial, has provided a boost for Galapagos NV.

The Belgian biotech, which is listed on the NASDAQ, saw its shares jump 9% to $136.85 on 11 September after reporting positive topline results from the NOVESA Phase IIa trial of ziritaxestat (formerly GLPG1690) in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). The oral autotaxin inhibitor is being co-developed with Gilead Sciences, Inc., as part of the $5.1bn R&D partnership signed in 2019 between Galapagos and the US biotech

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