for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) called
MIS416, developed by New Zealand biopharmaceutical company Innate
Immunotherapeutics, has been granted a patent in the United States.
Innates chief executive Simon Wilkinson says the US patent is a significant
milestone as the US market represents around 70% of the worldwide MS market by
revenue. He says currently there are no drugs approved to effectively treat
SPMS.
The granting of the patent comes ahead of the worlds largest annual gathering
of the healthcare/pharmaceutical investment sector in early January. The JP
Morgan conference in San Francisco attracts major investors and pharmaceutical
companies. While big listed companies take centre stage with their plans for
the coming 12 months at the conference, Mr Wilkinson says companies like Innate
will also be there talking with potential investors.
Following the success of our Phase 2A trials, where the data showed 80% of the patients
had at least a 30% (or greater) improvement in at least one measure of MS
related clinical status, we have attracted interest from both pharmas and
investors, he says.
Innate is now looking to convert this interest into funding for a larger randomized
Phase 2B clinical trial. Meanwhile patent applications for MIS416 have been
filed in other major markets including Europe, United Kingdom and Australia.
In parallel with the planning for the 2B study, Innate has expanded its NZ
‘compassionate use’ access programme to allow 12 patients from the completed 2A
trial to stay on treatment at the patients request. This brings the total
number of patients with progressive MS who have received MIS416 on
compassionate grounds to 21.
In 15 patients with SPMS who have received six or more doses, 13 (87%) have
reported modest to significant improvement in their health-related quality of
life.
Of the seven patients who have been on treatment for 20 weeks or more, six
(86%) report sustained improvements. MS related quality of life improvements
are measured using the internationally accepted “MS Quality of Life
Inventory” (MSQLI) assessment tool.
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