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Nitec Presents Results of CAPRA-1 Study

November 9, 2007

In Swiss drugmaker Nitec Pharma’s CAPRA-1 study, morning stiffness decreased on average by more than 50 percent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Lodotra for up to 12 months.

The 249-patient, open-label follow-up lasted nine months and was the continuation of a three-month, double-blind, controlled Phase III trial, which showed Lodotra was more effective than immediate release prednisone at reducing morning stiffness.

After three months, the study population showed a mean relative reduction in the duration of morning stiffness of 22.7 percent versus 0.4 percent. After six months of treatment with Lodotra, the reduction of morning stiffness amounted to 55 percent compared with baseline. This effect was sustained until the end of the 12-month treatment period, Nitec said.

Results also showed a statistically significant reduction in serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 after 12 months of treatment.