Protein Design Labs Inc (PDL) is developing SMART anti-CD3 (Nuvion) as a potential therapeutic for autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and as a prophylactic for transplant rejection. The therapy had been in phase II trials for the prevention of kidney rejection, but in December 2000 PDL decided not to continue the development of Nuvion in kidney transplantation to allow the company to focus on the rapid development of Nuvion for the treatment of acute GvHD, as well as on the larger autoimmune indications 13921621. In April 1999, Nuvion was in phase I/II trials for the treatment of psoriasis and phase I trials for GvHD, with phase II/III trials planned for 2001 for this indication. Following the release of disappointing trial results in June 2001, however, the development of Nuvion for the psoriasis indication was dropped. As of December 2000, PDL planned to initiate a phase I trial in IBD in the near future. In March 1999, Protein Design Labs was issued US-05834597. The patent relates generally to certain modifications of the constant (Fc) region of IgG2 antibodies and more specifically to anti-CD3 antibodies incorporating these modifications, including the company's SMART anti-CD3 antibody. In January 2002, analysts at Salomon Smith Barney predicted that the product would make sales of US $3.13 million in 2005, rising to US $7.20 million in 2006.