In March, after the Food and Drug Administration approved lupus drug Benlysta, Human Genome Sciences
Too bad it didn't last.
Even excluding the post-approval euphoria, Human Genome Sciences is down nearly 70% this year. It's worse if you measure from the peak.
Like Dendreon
Human Genome and marketing partner GlaxoSmithKline
Part of the problem is that patients and doctors can take a wait-and-see attitude toward Benlysta. Lupus can be debilitating, and the patients most severely affected are probably those being put on the drug, but the disease waxes and wanes, so Human Genome and Glaxo may have to wait until enough patients cycle through the bad spells before they can get access to them.
The companies just started a trial testing the subcutaneous formulation of the drug that could be administered once a week. That's actually more frequent than the current formulation, which is administered at two-week intervals for the first three doses and at four-week intervals thereafter. But the current formulation requires a one-hour infusion, which is certainly less convenient than patients sticking themselves with a needle and being done with it.
Convenience is a big issue with patients; it's driving Amylin Pharmaceuticals
For Human Genome to get back to this year's highs, it's going to have to hit the pavement, get in front of doctors, and hope that the success with initial patients drives additional prescriptions.
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