Merck Serono and development partner ZymoGenetics have initiated a Phase II/III trial of atacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug for the treatment of SLE. The study is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA. A second Phase II/III study in lupus nephritis, a severe form of SLE in which the kidneys are affected, was initiated in December 2007. These two studies are part of a potential...