Vectura says Parkinson’s drug meets endpoint

VR040 is Ventura’s proprietary formulation of apomorphine, delivered to the bloodstream by oral inhalation through the lungs using the company’s proprietary dry powder inhalation (DPI) technology. Presented study shows statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of mean change in unified Parkinson disease rating scale III (UPDRS III) relative to that seen with placebo (p=0.016). High restoration of mobility, allowing 81% of patients to achieve responses essentially the same as those achieved with their usual elodea dose. Rapid onset of action; the majority of patients achieved conversions within 10 minutes of inhaling apomorphine. Some patients reported conversion as quickly as two minutes after taking their medication

The study also shows durability of response, with a mean duration of 75 minutes. Excellent tolerability with only 5 of 32 patients reporting a total of swven treatment-related adverse events, no reports of treatment-related serious or severe adverse events and no patient withdrawals resulting from safety concerns.

Dr Donald Grosset, consultant neurologist in the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK and principal Investigator of the study, said: “The data support the clinical effectiveness of VR040 in Parkinson’s disease. This new, non-invasive way of delivering apomorphine quickly and efficiently to the bloodstream translates into a very rapid onset of action. This, together with the lack of side effects, means VR040 should provide benefit to Parkinson’s disease patients as their disease progresses.”