UCB (UCBJF) recently reported results from post hoc analyses of its restless legs syndrome (RLS) treatment Neupro (rotigotine). The data were presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s disease and Movement disorders.

RLS is a neurological disorder that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs during periods of inactivity or rest. This disorder mainly occurs late in the evening and at night. However, epidemiological studies and UCB’s post hoc analysis suggested that patients may experience symptoms during the daytime also, leading to impairment of daytime functioning.

The results from the post hoc analyses, which analyzed a six month study on Neupro in 458 patients, suggested patients dosed with Neupro (1 mg, 2 mg and 3 mg per 24 hours) experienced an improvement in daytime functioning and daytime symptoms compared with those on placebo.

The results from this analysis also demonstrated that after treatment with Neupro for six months, the patients experienced an improvement in impairment due to pain and in mood disturbance and depressive symptoms when compared with placebo.

At the International Congress, UCB also reported results from a post hoc analysis of the RECOVER study of Neupro. The analysis suggested that patients with Parkinson’s disease who were dosed Neupro experienced improvements in loss of interest in surroundings, loss of interest in doing things, improvement in appearance of sadness or depression and experiencing pleasure.

We note that Neupro is currently approved in the US and European Union (EU) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of early-stage idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. The drug is also approved in the EU for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe idiopathic RLS in adults.

However, in April 2008, UCB had to recall Neupro from the US market after it was found that specific batches of the drug deviated from the approved specification. Neupro is currently not marketed in the US and UCB is working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make the drug available to US patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease.

UCB’s Neupro mainly faces competition from GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Requip.

We currently have a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating) on UCB.

 
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