The tests showed that CEL-2000 is equivalent or possibly superior to Enbrel in slowing disease progression and lessening symptoms in mice. In addition, the vaccine has the potential to require fewer and smaller doses, be less toxic, more disease-specific and much less invasive, the company said.
The company also believes that the drug could be attractive to patients who are not able to take or be responsive to Enbrel, Remicade or Humira.
Daniel Zimmerman, senior vice president of research, cellular immunology of CEL-SCI, said: “We believe that our CEL-2000 vaccine works by reprogramming the faulty immune responses that attack the patient’s joints to reduce or stop those attacks.”