(RTTNews) -  XOMA Ltd. (XOMA: News ) plans to Start an investigator sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial of XOMA 052, its antibody to interleukin-1 beta, in Type 1 diabetes patients.

The company stated that the trial will be sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International or JDRF, the largest patient advocacy organization of Type 1 diabetes research worldwide.

The study is designed to evaluate the effect of anti-inflammatory treatment in Type 1 diabetes patients after the initial period of autoimmune activity that results in the loss of blood sugar level control, attempting to prevent the complete loss of beta cells. It follows an initial study indicating that anti-IL-1 drugs may have positive benefit for patients with Type 1 diabetes, the company said.
The randomized, placebo-controlled study in 24 patients with well-controlled Type 1 diabetes who have had the disease for at least two years will measure the effects of treatment with XOMA 052 over six months on beta cell function and insulin production. The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of XOMA 052 will also be assessed.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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