CSL says angioedema drug meets goals of trial

Last Updated: 2007-11-26 16:05:05 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CSL Limited said on Monday its treatment for hereditary angioedema, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to life-threatening swelling of body tissues, met the primary and secondary goals of a late-stage clinical trial.

The company's CSL Behring subsidiary said in a release that the favorable results for its human pasteurized C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate were seen in a phase III international trial, and that "significant positive results" were also seen for all secondary goals of the trial.

The study involved 125 patients with the genetic disorder, which the company said can lead to dangerous swelling of the face, airways, abdomen and extremities.

CSL Limited, which is based in Melbourne, Australia, said results of the trial would help support planned marketing applications of the drug in the United States, Canada and Europe as a treatment for acute attacks of the disorder.

CSL Limited has sold C1-INH concentrate for years to such patients in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and several other countries, where it is sold under the brand name Berinert.

(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson)