Genzyme Presents New Data from Alemtuzumab Phase 2 MS Trial
Genzyme, a subsidiary of sanofi-aventis Group, announced that it will present new data from its completed Phase 2 trial of the investigational drug alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis (MS) at the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN) 63rd Annual Meeting in Hawaii, April 9 - 16, 2011. Included among the additional Phase 2 trial safety and efficacy data at AAN will be presentations on the clinically-active disease status of patients through five-years of patient follow-up as well as data describing a measure of vision improvement.
Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody being studied as a potential therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Genzyme is currently conducting two pivotal Phase 3 trials to evaluate alemtuzumab in the treatment of MS. CARE-MS I is a randomized trial comparing alemtuzumab to the approved MS therapy Rebif® (high dose interferon beta-1a) in early, active RRMS patients who have received no prior therapy. CARE-MS II, which also compares alemtuzumab to Rebif, is studying RRMS patients who relapsed while on other MS therapies. Data from these trials are expected to be available beginning in mid-2011.
Genzyme’s CAMMS223 Phase 2 trial, first reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008, compared alemtuzumab to Rebif in early, active, RRMS patients who had received no prior therapy. In the trial, which was larger and longer than most Phase 2 MS clinical trials, alemtuzumab was given to patients in two or three annual cycles of not more than five days per cycle, while Rebif was given to patients three times per week, every week for three years. The study included an extended phase for collection of long-term efficacy and safety data.
In the Phase 2 trial, 334 patients with early active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were randomized to treatment with alemtuzumab at one of two dose levels, or to the approved MS therapy Rebif® (high dose interferon beta-1a). Alemtuzumab was given to patients in two or three annual cycles of not more than five days per cycle, while Rebif was given to patients three times per week, every week for three years. The majority of alemtuzumab treated patients last received the investigational drug at Month 12.
The trial successfully met its two primary endpoints, reduction in relapse rate and reduction in the rate of sustained accumulation of disability.
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