Octapharma commences relapsing multiple sclerosis drug trial

Octapharma has announced the commencement of GAM-27, a phase II/III study assessing a new treatment approach for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

The first two patients have now been enrolled for the trial, which will utilise intravenous administration of immunoglobulin (Octagam Five Percent) to deliver lower annualised relapse rates to people for whom first-line treatment is not suitable.

A special assay panel called the Heidelberg Assay Panel has been developed to potentially stratify patients into predicted responders or non-responders to treatment. The purpose of this trial will be assess whether the test can be used to deliver a targeted therapy approach in future.

In total, 216 patients with early relapsing multiple sclerosis will be recruited at approximately 35 European sites in several countries.

Dr Wolfgang Frenzel, international medical director at Octapharma, said: "Funding this study is part of our ongoing long-term commitment to supporting advances in multiple sclerosis therapies."

Octapharma is an independent Swiss-based company that employs 5,000 people worldwide and currently sells its products in more than 80 countries.