Sanofi reports positive data from MS drug trial

Sanofi has reported positive data from a new clinical trial of Aubagio (teriflunomide), its developmental oral therapy for multiple sclerosis.

Results from the phase III Temso study showed that the Sanofi/Genzyme therapy was able to reduce the annual relapse rate and disability progression associated with the condition, while helping to prevent brain lesions.

Moreover, the drug was also shown to provide an encouraging safety profile, with those in the Aubagio study group showing similar levels of adverse events to those receiving placebo.

Aubagio was filed for US regulatory approval in August 2011, with a submission to the European Medicines Agency set to take place in the first quarter of 2012.

Dr Elias Zerhouni, president of global research and development at Sanofi, said: "The publication of the teriflunomide results in the New England Journal of Medicine is an exciting milestone as we continue the development of our product."

Last month, the company announced new clinical study data for its type 2 diabetes therapy Lyxumia, demonstrating its efficacy in providing glycaemic control improvements.