XOMA (US) LLC Release: XOMA 052 Shows Potent In Vitro Inhibition of Interleukin-6 Production in Human Myeloma Cells

BERKELEY, Calif., April 19, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that independent researchers today presented results showing that XOMA's antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), XOMA 052, was highly effective in reducing production of a protein that supports the proliferation of cancerous human myeloma cells in vitro. These results are consistent with a 47 patient clinical trial in early-stage myeloma patients which demonstrated that IL-1 blockade with IL-1 receptor antagonist Kineret® (anakinra) in combination with standard therapy improved progression-free survival. The new data were presented at the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Abstract # 2449).