* Company sees drug becoming most effective MS treatment
By Toni Clarke
BOSTON, April 14 (Reuters) – New data from a clinical trial of Genzyme Corp’s (GENZ.O) experimental multiple sclerosis drug lends weight to the company’s conviction it could, if approved, become the most effective drug on the market.
Three-year results from a mid-stage trial of the drug, Campath, were published in 2008.
Data presented on Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology showed that after four years, 71 percent of patients had no relapse or worsening of disability.
That compares with 35 percent for patients taking Rebif, a rival drug made by EMD Serono, an affiliate of Germany’s Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc
Genzyme, which faces a proxy battle from billionaire investor Carl Icahn, is struggling to emerge from a manufacturing crisis that lead to shortages of two of its key drugs for rare diseases.