Phase I clinical trial of new drug for severe asthma

Cambridge Antibody Technology today announced that it is starting a Phase I clinical trial of CAT-354, a human anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody, which is a potential treatment for severe asthma, following recent approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The Phase I trial is a placebo-controlled, rising single intravenous dose study of CAT-354 and will take place in the UK at the Marix Drug Development Clinical Research Centre, Llantrisant, South Wales. The objectives of the trial will be to study the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of CAT- 354. Patient enrolment is expected to commence shortly and the results of the trial are likely to be available during the second quarter of 2005.

Dr. David Glover, CAT's Chief Medical Officer, comments: "The initiation of this clinical trial represents a further milestone in the development of CAT as a biopharmaceutical company. CAT-354 is the fourth human monoclonal antibody that we have taken into clinical trials ourselves and makes a total of 11 human antibody drug candidates discovered using our technology that have entered clinical development. We are very optimistic about CAT-354 as a potential treatment for severe asthma."