Roche MS drug meets key goal in late-stage trial
Source: www.reuters.com Key Points: Fenebrutinib MS treatment cuts relapse rates in relapsing MS compared with Aubagio. Matches Ocrevus in slowing primary progressive MS. Roche aims for regulatory approval; peak sales could exceed $1B. Swiss drugmaker Roche said its experimental fenebrutinib MS treatment met its main goal in one of two late-stage trials testing it against the relapsing form of the disease. The announcement on Monday lifted Roche’s shares by nearly 2%. The study showed that fenebrutinib significantly reduced the annualized relapse rate in MS patients compared with teriflunomide, a drug marketed by Sanofi under the brand name Aubagio. The results were based on at least 96 weeks of treatment, according to a company statement. Roche said the findings could mark an important step toward expanding treatment options for MS patients. Analysts from Leerink projected that fenebrutinib could generate more than $1 billion in annual peak sales if approved. Comparable results in a s...