– Acorda Therapeutics Committed to Working with FDA
ARDSLEY, NY, USA I May 2, 2014 I Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for PLUMIAZTM (diazepam) Nasal Spray for the treatment of people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures.
A CRL is a communication from the FDA that informs a company that their review of the NDA is complete and the application cannot be approved in its present form. The Company is currently developing a response to address the items outlined in the letter.
“There is an urgent need for new treatments for people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures. We are committed to the development and commercialization of PLUMIAZ, a potential therapeutic option for these individuals,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO. “We are evaluating the Complete Response Letter and expect to work closely with the FDA to address the items outlined in the letter and refile the NDA for PLUMIAZ. We expect to provide further detail as our discussions with the FDA progress.”
Based on the requirements for approval outlined in the letter, the Company does not expect PLUMIAZ to receive FDA approval in 2014.
Of the approximately 2.8 million people in the United States with epilepsy, it is estimated that about 175,000 experience cluster seizures, also known as acute repetitive seizures or bouts of increased seizure activity. These patients may experience cluster seizures even though they generally are on stable regimens of antiepileptic medications (AEDs). Currently, many of these individuals do not find the currently available outpatient therapy acceptable and default to emergency room care or no care at all. PLUMIAZ potentially offers a more viable treatment option. PLUMIAZ has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of cluster seizures.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Seizures are symptoms of abnormal brain activity, and occur when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain.
About Acorda Therapeutics
Founded in 1995, Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.
Acorda markets three FDA-approved therapies including: AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and Zanaflex tablets, a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity; and QUTENZA® (capsaicin) 8% Patch, for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia. AMPYRA is marketed outside the United States as FAMPYRA® (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) by Biogen Idec under a licensing agreement from Acorda.
Acorda has one of the leading pipelines in the industry of novel neurological therapies. The Company is currently developing six clinical-stage therapies and one preclinical stage therapy that address a range of disorders including post-stroke deficits, epilepsy, stroke, peripheral nerve damage, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, and heart failure. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.acorda.com.
SOURCE: Acorda Therapeutics
Post Views: 177
– Acorda Therapeutics Committed to Working with FDA
ARDSLEY, NY, USA I May 2, 2014 I Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for PLUMIAZTM (diazepam) Nasal Spray for the treatment of people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures.
A CRL is a communication from the FDA that informs a company that their review of the NDA is complete and the application cannot be approved in its present form. The Company is currently developing a response to address the items outlined in the letter.
“There is an urgent need for new treatments for people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures. We are committed to the development and commercialization of PLUMIAZ, a potential therapeutic option for these individuals,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO. “We are evaluating the Complete Response Letter and expect to work closely with the FDA to address the items outlined in the letter and refile the NDA for PLUMIAZ. We expect to provide further detail as our discussions with the FDA progress.”
Based on the requirements for approval outlined in the letter, the Company does not expect PLUMIAZ to receive FDA approval in 2014.
Of the approximately 2.8 million people in the United States with epilepsy, it is estimated that about 175,000 experience cluster seizures, also known as acute repetitive seizures or bouts of increased seizure activity. These patients may experience cluster seizures even though they generally are on stable regimens of antiepileptic medications (AEDs). Currently, many of these individuals do not find the currently available outpatient therapy acceptable and default to emergency room care or no care at all. PLUMIAZ potentially offers a more viable treatment option. PLUMIAZ has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of cluster seizures.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Seizures are symptoms of abnormal brain activity, and occur when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain.
About Acorda Therapeutics
Founded in 1995, Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.
Acorda markets three FDA-approved therapies including: AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and Zanaflex tablets, a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity; and QUTENZA® (capsaicin) 8% Patch, for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia. AMPYRA is marketed outside the United States as FAMPYRA® (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) by Biogen Idec under a licensing agreement from Acorda.
Acorda has one of the leading pipelines in the industry of novel neurological therapies. The Company is currently developing six clinical-stage therapies and one preclinical stage therapy that address a range of disorders including post-stroke deficits, epilepsy, stroke, peripheral nerve damage, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, and heart failure. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.acorda.com.
SOURCE: Acorda Therapeutics
Post Views: 177
