Phase 2 Data Show Daclizumab Significantly Reduced Multiple Sclerosis Lesions in Patients Receiving Interferon Be...( - Phase 2 monotherapy trial t...)

- Phase 2 monotherapy trial to be initiated by end of 2007 -

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biogen Idec Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (PDL) (Nasdaq: PDLI) announced today that Phase 2 data demonstrated a significant reduction in new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions when daclizumab is added to interferon beta therapy in patients with active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). These data will be presented tomorrow at the 23rd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research of Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Prague, Czech Republic.

The ongoing Phase 2, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, known as the CHOICE trial, studies MS patients who continue to have active MS disease while receiving interferon beta therapy. The study patients who received daclizumab 2 mg/kg subcutaneously every two weeks showed a statistically significant 72% reduction in the number of new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions (Gd+) at week 24, compared to patients on interferon beta therapy alone. Patients from the CHOICE study were followed for an additional 48 weeks after the daclizumab treatment period to further assess safety and efficacy.

"Patients who received daclizumab every two weeks experienced far fewer new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions than the control group, which indicates that the antibody may be a promising option for patients with MS," said Dr. Xavier Montalban, Direct
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