European Biotechs Showcase Multiple Sclerosis Treatments in Stockholm

Genmab, GeNeuro and other companies presented their latest data on next-generation treatments for multiple sclerosis at a conference in Stockholm. The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) gathered experts and companies working on multiple sclerosis in Sweden this year. Companies such as Genmab and GeNeuro revealed the progress of their treatments, with Genmab’s drug at the verge of reaching the market. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the cells that keep nerve cells healthy, causing neurodegeneration and eventual disability. Its has received attention from the biotech industry because the condition has no cure, and there are limited drugs approved to slow the progression of the disease. In particular, many companies aim to stop relapses in the most common form of the condition, known as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The Danish antibody developer Genmab presented results from its drug ofatumumab, which is licensed to Novartis. In two phase III trials, the ability of the antibody drug to prevent relapse was compared to that of teriflunomide, an oral drug routinely used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Patients given Genmab and Novartis’ antibody had an annualized relapse rate of around 0.1 in the two trials, which is less than half of those given teriflunomide in both trials, with an annualized relapse rate of around 0.22.