Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday that it is preparing to start late-stage clinical trials of its experimental lupus drug, blisibimod.
Anthera made the announcement after discussions with the Food and Drug Administration. The company plans to run two 52-week trials that compare blisibimod to placebo in patients who have systemic lupus and whose symptoms are not fully controlled despite treatment with corticosteroids.
The Hayward, Calif., company’s shares jumped 12 cents, or 13.2 percent, to close at $1.05.
