J&J Halts New Arthritis Drug Combination Following Lackluster Trial

Global health care leader Johnson & Johnson announced in an Aug. 28 statement that it would not proceed with the development of a new combination drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis, citing lackluster results following a 12-week study on patients.

The firm’s Phase 2a DAISY proof-of-concept study was in the process of evaluating the combination of nipocalimab, used in treating nerve and muscle diseases, and an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (antiTNF-a) therapy. This therapy uses drugs to block the TNF-a, which is a major cause of inflammation in both autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.