Kyowa Hakko Kirin reports positive trial data for Parkinson’s drug

Kyowa Hakko Kirin has published positive new clinical trial data for KW-6002, a developmental therapy for Parkinson's disease.

Data from the phase III study showed that patients with motor response complications resulting from their disease experienced a significant reduction in off-time using KW-6002 compared to those on placebo.

It meant that the drug was able to meet the primary endpoint goal of the trial, while it was also shown to be well-tolerated by users in a safety analysis.

KW-6002 is also known by the generic name istradefylline and is a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist that is currently being readied for regulatory submission in Kyowa Hakko Kirin's native Japan.

The company said: "We believe that KW-6002 [may] be a new option in the treatment alternatives for Parkinson's disease, contributing to improve the symptoms of patients."

Last month, Kyowa Hakko Kirin reported a 15.7 percent year-on-year sales increase in the first quarter of 2011, a period which saw the firm complete its acquisition of UK pharmaceutical company ProStrakan.