Eisai said it will launch a Phase III trial of eritoran as a treatment for severe sepsis after a mid-stage study hit its target of reducing mortality compared to a placebo. The Phase II trial did not establish a benchmark for statistical significance, instead focusing on whether eritoran could lead to a 5 percent reduction in deaths. Mortality was 33.3 percent in placebo, 32 percent in the low-dose group and 26.9 percent in the high-dose group. The group with the highest risk of death appeared to benefit the most from the therapy. In patients who were considered at higher risk of death, mortality among placebo patients was 50.9 percent, 37.9 percent in low-dose patients and 33.3 percent in high-dose patients.
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