MLN0002 is a humanized monoclonal antibody which is being investigated in Phase II clinical trials as a potential treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This antibody binds to a T cell integrin, alpha4beta7, and has been shown to prevent the migration of T cells to the gut in laboratory studies. Increased T cell trafficking is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

MLN0002 has been studied in patients with Crohn's disease in a phase II clinical trial, the results of which were announced by Millennium in September 2002.

In May 2003, Millennium announced the results of a multi-center, double-blinded phase II trial of MLN0002 in 181 patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis randomized to receive either MLN0002 or placebo. In this study, the percent of patients achieving a remission as measured by an Ulcerative Colitis Clinical Score (UCCS) and a Modified Barron Score (MBS) of zero or one was significantly higher in the two MLN0002 dose groups as compared to placebo.

Additional studies are planned for MLN0002 in Ulcerative Colitis patients.