Biogen Idec publishes positive multiple sclerosis drug trial data

Biogen Idec has announced the publication of new clinical data supporting the strong potential of its new multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment BG-12.

Data from the phase III trials Define and Confirm have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, showing that the dimethyl fumarate therapy was able to deliver significant and clinically meaningful reductions in MS relapses and brain lesions.

The therapy is intended for patients with relapsing-remitting forms of MS and is currently under review by regulatory authorities in Europe, the US, Australia, Canada and Switzerland.

According to the manufacturer, the latest data shows that BG-12 can deliver tangible benefits for MS patients across the world.

Dr Katherine Dawson, senior medical director at Biogen Idec's neurology research and development unit, said: "We are working closely with regulatory authorities across the globe with the aim of making the review of dimethyl fumarate as quick as possible."

Earlier this month, the company announced the sale of its royalty rights to the systemic lupus erythematosus therapy Benlysta, thus allowing it to accelerate payments that would otherwise have been spread over a longer period.