Dainippon: Sepracor acquisition to provide US presence

Having agreed to acquire Sepracor for approximately $2.6 billion, Japan's Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma will gain a presence in the US market where it plans to submit its experimental schizophrenia treatment lurasidone for regulatory approval in 2010. However, given the threat of competition from generic drugs and other pipeline treatments, lurasidone is not expected to generate significant sales.

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Depression sufferers still reluctant to see physician

While the number of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) is set to grow only minimally in next two decades, the condition still represents a key health risk, for both society and the individual. For example, MDD is a leading cause of disability and under-diagnosis remains a problem. Furthermore, the leading classes of MDD drugs have been linked to increased suicidality.

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Depression: 12.75 million sufferers in US

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Depression: psychotic depression affects 14% of people with major depression

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Doubts over Gilenya's safety will benefit current and future competitors

Following reports of 11 deaths among patients, doubts have been cast over the safety of Novartis's Gilenya. The subsequent EMA review will likely boost sales of Gilenya's main competitors as physicians favor therapies with known safety profiles. In order to curb the impact of this high-profile review on future sales, Novartis would be well served to publish additional safety data for the drug.

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ECTRIMS 2010: Biogen Idec demonstrates ongoing commitment to MS through extensive pipeline

As one of the biggest players in multiple sclerosis, Biogen Idec featured strongly at the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, using it as a platform to highlight its broad portfolio of products. The most interesting presentation was of data from a Phase II trial of ocrelizumab, showing it to be highly efficacious in relieving MS symptoms.

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ECTRIMS 2010: despite progress, the advent of personalized medicine remains a distant hope

Datamonitor believes that there is a need for robust and reliable biological markers that can drive diagnosis rates, identify treatment responders, predict disease progression and improve outcomes in MS. However, while lectures during ECTRIMS 2010 highlighted the growing understanding of MS genetics, researchers are still far away from delivering useable clinical tools based on biomarkers.

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ECTRIMS 2010: exciting times ahead in the MS field

In October, Datamonitor attended the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, during which Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme presented new data from their late-stage pipeline products. With a wave of novel drugs in the pipeline set to compete with Gilenya and Movectro, the MS space is set to see exciting times ahead.

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ECTRIMS 2010: Sanofi-Aventis candidate trails existing oral MS therapies despite positive data

During the 26th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Sanofi-Aventis presented an overview of the ongoing clinical development program for oral therapy teriflunomide, including new data from the pivotal Phase III TEMSO study. While these favorable data show teriflunomide's potential, it appears to lack efficacy advantages over leading therapy Gilenya.

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ECTRIMS 2010: Teva candidates show positive results in early MS patients

Teva Pharmaceuticals used the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis conference to showcase positive Phase III data for laquinimod, its novel once-daily oral drug, which infer that its mechanism of action has neuroprotective effects. Teva also presented new long-term data for its market-leading multiple sclerosis therapy Copaxone.

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