Novartis Drug Reduces Disability Progression Risk in Rare Form of MS

Novartis could have a strong contender in treating a rare form of multiple sclerosis.

The Swiss drug maker posted updated data over the weekend for its investigational treatment BAF312 in which the data demonstrated the drug could lower the risk of disability progression in patients diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

BAF312 was able to reduce the risk of three-month confirmed disability progression by 21 percent when compared to placebo, according to Novartis. Risk reduction was even greater at six months, but the announcement didn’t specify a percentage. The trial also revealed BAF312 caused a risk reduction in confirmed disability in predefined subgroups along with making a notable difference in annualized relapsed rates and percent change in brain volume and brain lesions.

The drug was comparable to rival candidates in this category demonstrating a profile that was generally safe and well tolerated.

Results from this study are still in its early stages, but they could bode well for Novartis.

“These data are a positive stride forward in an unserved disease area, and we look forward to evaluating next steps with health authorities,” said Novartis Chief Medical Officer Vasant Narasimhan to Reuters.

Certain analysts feel this treatment is an “under-appreciated” component in Novarts’s pipeline. It has a high chance of bringing in an estimated $3 billion in peak sales. Novartis plans to submit a regulatory filing sometime in 2019.