Its been a week notable for developments in neurology medicine, with Celgene exercising an option to buy a potential multiple sclerosis drug, as GW Pharma prepares a filing for a phase 3 epilepsy drug derived from the cannabis plant.
Celgene has exercised a $20 million option to obtain ex-US rights to Abides first-in-class endocannabinoid system modulator, ABX-1431, which could treat neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) by producing similar effects to cannabinoid drugs.
Celgene will pay for development for all indications from phase 2 clinical trials onward, while Abide retains US rights and will conduct phase 1b studies.
San Diego-based biotech Abide said it had completed a first-in-human phase 1a study, showing the drug is well tolerated, and with no adverse events, with data from PET scans showing the drug had penetrated the brain.
ABX-1431 is a first-in-class, orally active, selective, small molecule inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) that modulates the levels of the endogenous cannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
This in turn is believed to regulate neurotransmitter balance and inflammation. Neurotransmitter imbalance as a result of immune attack is a feature of MS.
Abide said ABX-1431 elicits a similar beneficial effect to medicinal cannabis on pain, spasticity, sleep, appetite, and nausea but by amplifying signalling in the bodys cannabinoid signalling system.
Meanwhile GW Pharma announced a second set of positive phase 3 trial results for Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for the rare childhood epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Patients taking the oral, cannabis-derived drug daily at 40mg dose, showed a 42% reduction in monthly seizures, compared with 17% who took placebo.
This is the second phase 3 success for Epidiolex in Lennox-Gastaut after a first set of positive results announced in June, and the company plans a US filing in the first half of 2017.
The filing will cover Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome the drug produced positive results in the latter in March in a separate phase 3 trial.
The dossier will contain data from one Dravet trial, and two Lennox Gastaut trials, with the US Food and Drug Administration giving a simultaneous decision on both indications, without waiting for results from a second Dravet trial.
Also being developed in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and infantile spasms, analysts have predicted the drug could become a blockbuster if it is approved in all indications.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Progress In Neurology For Celgene And GW
Author: Richard Staines
Contact: Pharma Phorum
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Website: Pharma Phorum
