05:14 AM EST, 11/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Biogen (BIIB) and its collaboration partner UCB said Tuesday their phase 3 trial evaluating dapirolizumab pegol in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus met its primary endpoint.

Results of the late-stage trial showed "significant clinical improvement" in disease activity in the subject patients, as well as a generally favorable safety profile, the companies said.

However, the trial failed to achieve statistical significance in the first secondary endpoint, they said. The companies plan to start a second phase 3 trial of the drug candidate in 2024.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems, mainly in women.