NeuroDerm Ltd.’s (NDRM) shares almost tripled (up 193.5%) after the company announced encouraging top-line data from a phase IIa pharmacokinetic study on its levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) candidates, ND0612H and ND0612L. NeuroDerm is evaluating ND0612L and ND0612H as a continuous, subcutaneous dosage of liquid LD/CD for moderate and advanced Parkinson's disease patients, respectively.
The phase IIa study evaluated the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of six dosing regimens of ND0612H and ND0612L in Parkinson's disease patients over an eight-hour treatment period for three consecutive days, with high and low doses of CD and with adjunct oral Novartis’ (NVS) Comtan (entacapone).
Results from the study revealed that both ND0612H and ND0612L led to clinically significant reduction in fluctuations of plasma levodopa concentration levels when compared to oral LD/CD. In addition to this, data showed that the higher dose version, ND0612H, can reach high LD plasma levels and prove to be an effective alternative treatment when compared to currently available treatments that require surgical intervention in advanced Parkinson's patients.
Encouraged by the positive results from the study, NeuroDerm intends to advance ND0612H and ND0612L in the U.S. and EU in 2015.
Apart from ND0612H and ND0612L, NeuroDerm has two more LD/CD Parkinson’s disease candidates, namely, ND0680 and ND0701.
We note that several companies including Impax Laboratories Inc. (IPXL) is looking to bring its Parkinson’s disease treatment to the market. Impax Laboratories’ Rytary (an extended release capsule formulation of CD/LD) is currently under FDA review with a response expected by Jan 9, 2015.
NeuroDerm currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include AbbVie (ABBV) and Impax. While AbbVie is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock, Impax holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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