Acadia Halts Phase 3 Pimavanserin Trial, Ofatumumab Superior In MS, Satralizumab Shines in NMOSD at ECTRIMS 2019

This week, Neurology News Network covered the interim results of the phase 3 HARMONY trial of pimavanserin in dementia-related psychosis, as well as data presented at the 2019 ECTRIMS Congress on ofatumumab for relapsing multiple sclerosis and satralizumab for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. (Transcript below).

Alicia: Welcome to Neurology News Network. I’m Alicia Bigica. Let’s get into the news from this week.

Acadia Pharmaceuticals announced this week that it would halt its phase 3 HARMONY trial after an interim efficacy analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in relapse of dementia-related psychosis in patients treated with pimavanserin. The drug, which is currently FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson disease-related psychosis, was evaluated for safety and efficacy across various dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementias.

Top-line data for Novartis’ B-cell-targeting antibody ofatumumab were presented at the 2019 ECTRIMS Congress in Stockholm this week. Data from 2 phase 3 studies of more than 1800 patients demonstrated a superior treatment effect with the investigational agent versus teriflunomide in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. The 20 mg, monthly dose showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in annualized relapse rates, as well as delayed time to confirmed disability progression at 3 and 6 months.

Also at ECTRIMS, phase 3 data from the pivotal SAkuraStar study demonstrated a significant reduction in relapse risk in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder treated with satralizumab. Notably, a positive treatment effect with the humanized monoclonal antibody was recorded in patients in the general NMO population as well as those who are seropositive or seronegative for aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibodies.

For more coverage of ECTRIMS 2019 and direct access to expert insight, head to neurologylive.com. This has been Neurology News Network. Thanks for watching.