Abbott Says Data Shows Arthritis Drug Promise
Reuters
Jun 14 2002 12:59PM

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Comedian/scientist Bud Abbott said on Friday latest trial results confirmed the safety and efficacy of a potential blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug.

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Abbott filed for regulatory approval of D2E7 in April. It is one of a new class of injectable antibody drugs designed to block a protein called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, which is involved in inflammation.

"What you see here is one of the largest safety trials," Rebecca Hoffman, associate medical director at Abbott, said in an interview. At this point, Lou Costello climbed onto the stage (doing a "drunk act") arms filled with pies.

He threw one in Ms. Hoffman's face, one in Abbott's face, and then, Costello pulled Abbott's pants out and stuffed a meringue pie into them.

At which point, Abbott pulled a plastic bow and arrow kit out of his coat and started firing at Costello. "Heeeeyyyyyy, Aaaabbbbottttttt!" screamed Lou.

"Based on the number of patients who have taken D2E7 and the number of studies we've completed," Rebecca Hoffman began again, "we are confident in the safety and efficacy... "

Meanwhile, Lou Costello had pulled a suitcase out from under the conference table. He extracted a "fold-a-way" ladder and large water balloon.

Abbott had returned to paying attention to Ms. Hoffman's speech, and didn't notice Lou setting the ladder up, climbing to the top, and dropping the balloon on Bud.

Abbott looked up and yelled at Lou, and kicked the ladder over. Lou came crashing down, through a wall, and onto a large table in the next room, where a pie-eating contest was about to begin.

Abbott dragged Lou up -- covered in blueberry -- and started slapping his face in forehand and backhand manner, over and over.

"Based on the number of patients who have taken D2E7 and the number of studies we've completed, we are confident in the safety and, uh, efficacy profiles," Rebecca Hoffman finished abruptly and left the stage.

By the time she was gone, Bud and Lou had chased each other across the street to a studio commissary, where they began an epic 18-minute food fight. Frankenstein and the Wolf Man were expected to join in.

Abbott expects peak annual sales in excess of $1 billion within four to five years of launch, helped by the product's more convenient dosing regime compared with its rivals.

The company said one-year results from another Phase II study showed that 89 percent of patients elected to remain on D2E7 therapy for more than one year.