Experimental MS drug shows promise in clinical trial

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced  today  that  the global  Phase II  study of ONO-4641, an experimental drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) has been successfully completed. The study was a double-blind placebo-controlled study in 11 countries in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. A total of 407 patients were randomized to receive placebo or one of 3 active doses of ONO-4641 once daily for 26 weeks. Patients were included in the study if they had two or more relapses in the two years prior to the study, one or more relapses within the year prior to the study or one or more new MS-related brain lesions, also known as Gd-enhancing lesions, detected on MRI within three months prior to the study. At the end of the study, patients taking 0.05, 0.10, or 0.15 mg of ONO-4641 had 82 percent, 92 percent and 77 percent fewer Gd-enhancing brain lesions, respectively, compared to placebo.