ChemoCentryx recently completed and reported results from the placebo controlled phase II PROTECT-1 study (the Prospective Randomized Oral Therapy Evaluation in Crohn's disease Trial) with CCX282-B which demonstrated evidence of significant clinical efficacy in the reduction of disease severity in induction therapy, while results from the maintenance arm demonstrated clinical efficacy in maintenance of remission in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. CCX282-B was shown to be well-tolerated after use up to one year.

"GSK's option exercise of CCX282-B is validation of ChemoCentryx's discovery and development capabilities and confirms the promise of our chemokine targeted development programs, many of which involve entirely new mechanisms of therapeutic action that have never been successfully regulated before," said Thomas J. Schall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ChemoCentryx. "We are especially pleased with the progress and results of the PROTECT-1 study as it represents the first definitive clinical evidence that chemokine receptors can be successfully targeted to treat a major inflammatory disease such as Crohn's. Working with a partner of GSK's caliber has been inspiring and we look forward to the further advancement of CCX282-B as well as the additional programs that comprise our alliance."

The alliance provides GSK with access to certain drug candidates and their associated back-ups against pre-defined targets, with licensing options following successful completion of clinical proof-of-concept.

SOURCE ChemoCentryx, Inc.