The FDA seemed to tentatively support the benefits of the investigational monoclonal antibody raxibacumab for treating inhalational anthrax following new animal studies, documents released before a Friday advisory committee meeting showed.
Rabbits that received the antibiotic levofloxacin (Levaquin) in combination with raxibacumab tended to show a greater survival rate (about 17%, P=0.0874) compared with those treated with levofloxacin alone, the FDA said Wednesday.
"Although a positive, statistically significant added benefit result was not achieved with this underpowered study design, there appears to be a trend towards greater survival in rabbits when raxibacumab is coadministered with levofloxacin 84 hours after inhalational anthrax exposure," FDA reviewers wrote in briefing documents released ahead of Friday's Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee meeting, at which committee members will vote on raxibacumab's safety and efficacy.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Anthrax Drug Effective, FDA Staff Finds
