Siponimod for SPMS maybe

[agate]

(Drumroll!) Here comes another drug they're trying out. It's been through its Phase 3 trials and the drug company (Novartis) seems to be quite excited about siponimod for SPMS:

Abstract of article in The Lancet, March 22--Kappos et al., "Siponimod vs. placebo in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, randomised, Phase III study":

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Article in Endpoints News (March 23), which reports on biopharma--"Poised for an FDA pitch, Novartis lays out all its Phase 3 cards on MS drug siponimod":

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Sunshine]

Look like some rough side effects :

“of 1096 patients receiving siponimod and 173 (32%) of 545 patients receiving placebo ...Adverse events occurred in 975 (89%) of 1099 patients receiving siponimod versus 445 (82%) of 546 patients receiving placebo; serious adverse events were reported for 197 (18%) patients in the siponimod group versus 83 (15%) patients in the placebo group. Lymphopenia, increased liver transaminase concentration, bradycardia and bradyarrhythmia at treatment initiation, macular oedema, hypertension, varicella zoster”

[agate]

(Also convulsions.)

Maybe the world is responding to this news by saying, "At last--something aimed specifically at SPMS! So what if it's not perfect--it's better than nothing, isn't it?"

Or at least Novartis has high hopes for this response.

[Sunshine]

Just re read my post. Placebo had almost as much problem as the med!

[Cherie]

I was just going to post that Sunshine! Statistically insignificant results.