Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AVNR) announced the presentation of results from a 10-week long, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase II study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of AVP-923 for the treatment of agitation in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
In this study, AVP-923 met the primary endpoint by showing a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in agitation in the patients. In stage I of the study (baseline to week 5), the average reduction in the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) score of agitation/aggression from baseline was 47% in patients treated with AVP-923 compared to 22% in those who received placebo.
In stage II (week 5 to week 10), the average change in NPI score was 26% for AVP-923 versus 6.7% for placebo. The benefit achieved under treatment with AVP-923 sustained throughout the study. AVP-923 was safe and well-tolerated among the patients.
This data was presented at the 2014 American Neurological Association Meeting.
According to Avanir, approximately 6 million patients in the U.S. suffer from Alzheimer's disease. This number is expected to increase to 16 million by 2050. Given the steady rate of increase in the number of patients suffering from mood/behavior and movement disorders, we believe that there is an urgent need for new therapies in the market.
Meanwhile, AVP-923 is also in a phase II study for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease. Proof-of-concept data readout from this study is expected by year end.
Avanir carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PCRX), Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. (HPTX) and United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR). While Pacira carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Hyperion and United Therapeutics hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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