EntreMed's Panzem Shows Anti-Arthritic Activity in Pre-Clinic

EntreMed shares climbed by more than 3 percent in premarket trading after the company presented encouraging preclinical data for Panzem in rheumatoid arthritis.

The anti-arthritic activity of Panzem (2-methoxyestradiol, or 2ME2) was evaluated in a preclinical animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. Data from the study demonstrated that oral treatment with 2ME2 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in severity of arthritic disease as determined by standard clinical measurements.

A decrease in clinical symptoms with 2ME2 administration was accompanied by a marked inhibition of tissue and joint damage that are hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis, such as inflammatory cell infiltrates, articular cartilage erosion, pannus formation, and bone resorption. These data demonstrate that in this animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, 2ME2 decreases inflammation, halts disease progression, and indicates that 2ME2 has disease modifying antirheumatic drug properties.