27th Oct 2022 10:58
(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Thursday said phase 3 trial results for its Ultomiris treatment showed a "significant" reduction in the risk of relapse in adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
The Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company said results from the Champion-NMOSD trial showed that Ultomiris, or ravulizumab, significantly reduced the risk of relapse in patients with the AQP4 Ab+ variety of NMOSD compared to placebo. The trial showed "zero relapses" with a median treatment duration of 73 weeks.
Ultomiris also showed a lower proportion of patients experiencing "clinically important" worsening in Hauser Ambulatory Index score, a measure of patient mobility.
NMOSD is a rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. In the disease, healthy cells are attacked by the immune system disrupting messages from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, causing weakness, worsened vision or other symptoms.
Most people living with NMOSD experience unpredictable relapses, characterised by a new onset of neurologic symptoms or worsening of existing neurologic symptoms, which tend to be severe and recurrent and may result in permanent disability.
Champion-NMOSD is a global Phase 3, open-label, multicentre trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Ultomiris in adults.
Sean Pittock, lead investigator in the Champion-NMOSD trial, said that the trial provided evidence that "ravulizumab may offer patients sustained reduction in the risk of relapse with dosing every eight weeks and underscoring the efficacy of C5 inhibition in managing NMOSD".
Shares in AstraZeneca were trading 0.4% lower at 9,993.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning.
By Chris Dorrell; [email protected]
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