Sanofi and Genzyme report positive data from Aubagio trial

Sanofi and Genzyme have reported positive data from a new phase III clinical trial of Aubagio, their therapy option for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).

Data from the Tower trial has shown that patients treated with the Genzyme drug experienced a statistically significant reduction in annualised relapse rates and the risk of sustained accumulation of disability, when compared to placebo.

In doing so, Aubagio was able to meet both its primary and secondary efficacy endpoints in the pivotal study.

Marketing applications for the drug are currently underway at the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

Genzyme president and chief executive officer David Meeker said: "These encouraging results … highlight the promise of teriflunomide as a potential new treatment for many patients with relapsing MS."

This comes in the same week that Sanofi and Genzyme conducted a series of global initiatives designed to raise awareness of MS, coinciding with the annual World MS Day event organised by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.