Pfizer's $7B ulcerative colitis drug racks up another phase 3 win, laying the groundwork for approval filings

The wins keep coming at Pfizer. Six days after posting positive induction data on its $6.7 billion ulcerative colitis drug, Pfizer has reported the S1P receptor modulator improved clinical remission out to 52 weeks in a second maintenance phase 3 clinical trial.

Last week, Pfizer posted top-line results from a phase 3 trial that found etrasimod, the drug it picked up in its takeover of Arena Pharmaceuticals, delivered a higher rate of clinical remission than placebo after 12 weeks of treatment. The data drop offered encouragement that Pfizer’s bet will pay off but left the vital question of whether etrasimod has a durable effect unanswered.