AB Science SA (Paris:AB)(NYSE-Euronext-FR0010557264-AB), a
pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and
commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors, announces the
publication of results from the human phase 2 study of masitinib
carried-out in the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis. The
article, 'Masitinib treatment in patients with progressive multiple
sclerosis: a randomized pilot study', is freely accessible online
from BioMed Central's peer-reviewed journal BMC Neurology (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/12/36/abstract).
• Phase 2 study establishes proof-of-concept that oral
masitinib has potential therapeutic benefits in patients with
progressive forms of multiple sclerosis
• Overall, results add new scientific data to the important
question of the potential role of anti inflammatory agents in the
management of progressive multiple sclerosis
• A phase 3 study has been initiated based upon these
promising results
Reported are results from a phase 2 study of 30 patients, conducted by
Professor Patrick Vermersch (CHRU Lille - Hôpital Roger Salengro,
France) and colleagues from six study centers across France,
investigating the hypothesis that masitinib's targeted inhibitory action
on mast cells can delay the onset of symptoms associated with
progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. There is currently no
satisfactory treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis or
relapse-free secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which represent
approximately 60% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Neuroinflammation is thought to be important in progressive multiple
sclerosis pathogenesis. Mast cells are a key component of the
inflammatory network and participate in the regulation of the
blood-brain barrier's permeability. Masitinib is an oral tyrosine kinase
inhibitor that effectively down-regulates mast cell functions and
therefore, represents a different approach to those therapeutic
strategies currently developed. The results showed that for the primary
endpoint of Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) score (which
measure symptoms of patients on three aspects: movement of the lower
limbs, movement of the upper limbs, and cognitive tests) 32% of patients
treated with masitinib were responders against 0% under placebo.
Responses were seen in the third month and were more-or-less sustained
over the study's 18-month duration. These results suggest that daily
administration of masitinib is of therapeutic benefit to progressive
forms of multiple sclerosis and could therefore represent an innovative
avenue of treatment for this disease.