Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Alemtuzumab efficacy now as important to Genzyme Corp as to MS patients

Genzyme Corporation has completed the deal that gives it the rights to the drug worldwide. Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab treatment is no doubt important to the millions of patients suffering for MS around the world.  But in the pharmaceutical world successful MS Alemtuzumab trials also is of substantial financial interest to Genzyme Corp. as well.  They have secured the rights to commercialize any successful results from Bayer HealthCare.  Under the agreement’s terms, Genzyme is making no payments to Bayer upfront, but will make payments in the future to Bayer based on revenue that Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab therapy may generate.   It could be a very important revenue generator if the drug is approved and successfully marketed worldwide.

Alemtuzumab is in phase 3 trials and is targeting RRMS, or relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab treatment in two separate trials.  Bayer will continue to help fund development until the drug is finally approved.

Data from Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab phase 3 trials should be available by the end of 2011

Under the brand name of Campath, results so far have been promising.  Compared to one of the main competitors in treating Multiple Sclerosis, Alemtuzumab has outperformed Rebif.  The competing Rebif is a high dose subcutaneous interferon beta-1a drug.  Patients treated with Campath suffered relapses 55% fewer times than those treated with Rebif over a period of two years.  In the trials, MS Alemtuzumab therapy was administered annually for two years in a once yearly cycle.

As with any drug, especially strong drugs used to treat Multiple Sclerosis, there are side effects to consider and discuss with your doctor before beginning treatment.  The most common side effects seen with the Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab trials were headache, rash, fever, and infections in the upper respiratory and urinary tracts.

Phase 2 MS Alemtuzumab had some interesting results

In the phase 2 Multiple Sclerosis Alemtuzumab trial, 38 of the patients who actually received the drug subsequently received another disease modifying regimen before the end of the 5^th year and 8 of the patients were retreated with another round of MS Alemtuzumab therapy.  Researchers found that the efficacy of alemtuzumab compared to interferon reduced the risk of sustained disability accumulation. (87% vs. 62%).  It also reduced mean disability, as opposed to interferon which increased disability and reduced the annualized relapse rate (0.14 vs. 0.28).  Additionally, there were patients on the interferon that developed colon cancer, while the alemtuzumab treated patients developed breast and cervical cancers, Burkitt’s lymphoma, thyroid papillary carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.