Biogen Idec and AbbVie report positive data from MS drug trial

Biogen Idec and AbbVie have announced positive clinical trial data underlining the benefits offered by Zinbryta, their collaboratively-developed new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Full results from the phase III DECIDE clinical trial have shown that Zinbryta, when dosed subcutaneously once a month, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in reducing disease activity in people with relapsing-remitting MS compared to Biogen Idec's established therapy Avonex.

The newer drug was able to reduce annualised relapse rates and new brain lesion development among the more than 1,800 patients enrolled in the three-year study.

Based on these positive findings, the companies intend to file for regulatory approval of Zinbryta during the first half of 2015.

Gilmore O'Neill, vice-president for MS research and development at Biogen Idec, said: "If approved, Zinbryta would offer a novel mechanism to treating MS in a self-administered, once-monthly dosing regimen."

This comes after another Biogen Idec MS therapy, Tecfidera, was approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence last month.