GLPG0259 abandoned

The Annals of the Rheumatic diseases just published an article on GLPG02659. René Westhovens and colleagues in a Concise Report: “Oral administration of GLPG0259, an inhibitor of MAPKAP5, a new target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a phase II, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial” (Ann Rheum Dis 2013; 72: 741-744. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis.2012-202221). Conclusions: “This innovative study design quickly provided conclusive results on the lack of efficacy of GLPG0259 in patients with RA.”

Quickly??? Well, you might like to check http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2012/06/eular-2012-in-berlin-focussing.html: “GLPG0259, a MAPKAPK5 inhibitor, should be abandoned.” I must admit that I forgot, what made me chance my mind, as GLPG0259 looked promising in 2011: http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2012/03/rheumatoid-arthritis-old-and-new-dmards.html.

Nevertheless the future will show, if MAPKAP5 is a target that will yield a new drug.