Opinion on  XOMA Ltd. (XOMA)     Sector: Healthcare  >  Industry: Biotechnology & Drugs
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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Xoma Ltd. and Novartis AG on Monday presented positive results from their pre-clinical and preliminary Phase 1 clinical trial of the experimental drug HCD122. The drug candidate is an anti-CD-40 monoclonal antibody designed to treat patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The development of HCD122 began in 2004 as part of Xoma's collaboration with Chiron Corp., which Novartis acquired earlier this year. Chiron is now known as Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc. Xoma said it expects to expand the clinical development of HCD122 into other indications in 2007. The companies announced the results at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.