Cart (0)
VIDEOAcorda's Ampyra Runs Ahead of Other MS Treatments
At a neurology conference, new data show the effectiveness of Ampyra, while physicians took little notice of new Tysabri data.
 |
|
One of the biggest draws at the conference was new data from Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) concerning its recently approved drug Ampyra. The drug was approved by the FDA on January 22 and is designed to help improve walking for patients with MS.
Acorda’s Ampyra is a new class of drug that isn’t made to slow the progression of MS like the other drugs on the market, but is meant to treat one of its most debilitating symptoms. MS is a degenerative disease caused by the deterioration of the protective coating of nerve cells that affects 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people worldwide. As the nerves around the spinal cord and in the brain become damaged, patients often lose their ability to walk, move certain parts of their body, see properly, or control their attention span, as well as other incapacitating issues.
(See An Acorda Win Ups the Takeover Ante)
“The data being presented at the AAN meeting include analyses of large numbers of patients receiving therapy for up to two and a half years, providing new information on the safety and efficacy of the drug during chronic use,” said Acorda Chief Executive Ron Cohen, M.D.
The data presented on Ampyra at AAN included an extension of two completed phase III studies that showed patients continued to improve their average baseline walking speed over the course of the 2.5-year period. The presentation at the conference also included data from one phase II trial and two phase III trials that showed 37.3% of patients who received Ampyra showed consistent improvement in their walking ability compared to 8.9% of patients who received placebo. The Ampyra-treated patients who responded to the therapy showed an average improvement in walking speed of 25.3%.
“Specialists with whom we spoke noted that patients were coming in requesting Ampyra, and the specialists had all started to write scripts,” wrote Leerink Swann analyst Josh Schimmer concerning his time at the conference. “On average they were in the process of starting roughly 1%-2% of their patients on therapy.”
Schimmer expects Ampyra to gain 17% of the MS market at its peak, but is now questioning whether that estimate is low due to the widespread positive feedback among neurologists.
Meanwhile, other MS treatments were not getting the same sort of reception at the conference. Biogen Idec (BIIB) and Elan (ELN) have been developing tests that would show which MS patients were at risk of developing a fatal brain disorder called PML. The companies make the MS treatment Tysabri, which has been plagued by cases of the brain disorder developing in patients who take the drug long term. More than 40 cases had been reported in patients on Tysabri as of March 10. Schimmer indicated that many specialists thought it was too early to speculate on what role the tests would realistically play in their practice.
The companies presented data showing that Tysabri is still one of the most effective MS treatments for patients, despite the risk of PML. The studies showed that Tysabri improved vision in MS patients over a placebo. It also was shown to improve “quality of life, including physical and psychological well-being, as well as reduce fatigue and improve cognitive function after one year of treatment.”
Biogen and Elan both saw their stocks slip on Wednesday, while Acorda gained almost 7% on the news to linger near $38.Twitter: @biowriterchik
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
