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Acorda scraps Parkinson’s drug after five trial deaths

pharmafile | November 20, 2017 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Acorda therapeutics, Parkinson's, patient deaths, pharma 

Acorda Therapeutics has announced that it is terminate development of its Parkinson’s therapy tozadenant after five deaths were reported as a result of trialling the drug.

The firm released a statement last week noting that it had discovered seven cases of sepsis in those taking the A2a receptor antagonist as part of its two long-term safety studies, of which five eventually died. Four of these cases were found to be associated with agranulocytosis, a condition characterised by the absence of white blood cells.

Shares plummeted by around 40% when the news broke. The company asserted at the time that it had no suspicion that the deaths were related to use of tozadenant.

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Acorda had originally immediately suspended enrolment following the news and said it would increase blood cell count monitoring to once per week in patients taking part in the ongoing trials, but has now opted to completely scrap any further development of the candidate. The drug had cost the company $363 million when it acquired it as part of a cash buyout of original developer Boetie in 2016.

The news comes as a dire blow to the company, which has floundered since its only drug on the market, Ampyra, was stripped of key patents after a legal decision in March of this year. A decision will be made on whether to uphold patent commitments allowing for generic competition will be made next summer.

Matt Fellows

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