Athersys falls on MultiStem UC miss

Athersys Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHX) fell $1.40 (51%) to $1.33 on Monday after reporting interim data from 88 patients showing a single IV infusion of MultiStem missed the co-primary endpoints in a Phase II trial to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). MultiStem did not improve endoscopic scores from baseline to week eight and did not improve Mayo rectal bleeding subscores from baseline to weeks four and eight vs. placebo. Partner Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) conducted the double-blind trial, which enrolled patients with moderate to severe active UC despite prior treatment with corticosteroids, immunosuppresants or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Pfizer has rights to develop and commercialize MultiStem to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including UC. ...