Maxygen has initiated a Phase I clinical study in the US to evaluate CTLA4-Ig therapeutic, which is being developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions.

The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and dose-escalation study is will enrol 65 subjects in eight dose cohorts.

Its primary objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single ascending intravenous doses of CTLA4-Ig therapeutic in healthy adults, while the secondary objective is to evaluate the drug’s pharmacodynamics.

CTLA4-Ig therapeutic is being developed by Perseid Therapeutics, Maxygen’s majority-owned subsidiary, in partnership with Astellas Pharma, which is sponsoring the clinical trial.