Alkermes Adds Multiple Sclerosis Pill to Expanding Pipeline

Alkermes CEO Richard Pops, as you might expect, struck a very optimistic tone about his bolstered pipeline during a presentation in downtown Boston.

“We’re addressing big markets, big drug opportunities with modern science,” said Pops, reminding investors once again that the days of Alkermes being known only for cashing royalty checks on its drug delivery technologies are over.

The most intriguing of the new drugs announced Wednesday was an enhanced and novel prodrug of monomethyl fumarate (MMF), the active ingredient inside Biogen Idec’s (BIIB_)multiple sclerosis pill Tecfidera.

Alkermes showed preclinical data Wednesday suggesting its MMF prodrugs (the company has two candidates in development) could be dosed once per day (Tecfidera is taken twice a day) and cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

The company expects to seek permission from FDA to begin human testing of its MMF prodrugs for multiple sclerosis in 2014, with a phase I study slated to begin mid-year. Composition of matter patents have been filed, which if granted, would give the drugs long patent protection, Alkermes said.

Source:  The Street.com

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