Xoma Corporation finalized the plans for gevokizumab Phase III Program in Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG).

The Phase III Study will include two double-blind placebo-controlled clinical studies with 60 patients who have active PG.

Paul Rubin, Senior Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of XOMA said, "The interest we have received from the medical community and the patients who suffer from pyoderma gangrenosum ulcerations reflect their desire to have access to therapeutic options that have been studied specifically in and are approved for this under-served patient population. We were very pleased the FDA agreed PG is a serious rare condition that has been identified as an unmet medical need with no approved therapies and that the input we received has allowed us to design a Phase III program we believe we can successfully execute in our targeted PG population."

Gevokizumab now has Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of PG.