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Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has discontinued a Phase 2 trial for its blockbuster arthritis therapy Tremfya in patients with an autoimmune disorder called giant cell arteritis after the study failed to meet the primary goal, according to updated data from a federal register of clinical trials.
The trial, named THEIA, was designed to evaluate Tremfya, also known as guselkumab, against placebo in combination with a glucocorticoid taper regimen in adults with newly onset or relapsing giant cell arteritis.
The New Jersey-based pharma giant last updated its status on the ClinicalTrials.gov website on Monday as the trial came to a halt.
“This is an indication-specific decision that does not impact other guselkumab development programs,” a company spokesperson told BioSpace, which previously reported the news.
“Although this decision is disappointing, Johnson & Johnson remains committed to developing transformational therapies to address rheumatologic diseases for which there is significant unmet need,” the spokesperson added
Tremfya, approved in the U.S. for adults with plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis, is currently under investigation across multiple clinical trials as a signal agent or a combination therapy targeting various conditions.
Last week, J&J (JNJ) sought FDA approval for Tremfya as a treatment for moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.