Kiwi MS drug granted US patent

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A new drug developed in New Zealand for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis has been granted a patent in the United States.

The drug, called MIS416, was developed by biopharmacuetical company Innate Immunotherapeutics.

During a trial it resulted in 80 per cent of patients tested having a 30 per cent or greater improvement in at least one measure of MS-related clinical status.

Chief executive Simon Wilkinson said the US patent was a significant milestone because the US represents about 70 per cent of the worldwide MS market by revenue.

He said there were currently no drugs approved to effectively treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

Of the 15 patients who received six or more doses of MIS416, 13 reported modest to significant improvement in their health-related quality of life.

Of the seven patients who were on the treatment for 20 or more weeks, six reported sustained improvements.

Innate Immunotherapeutics had also filed patent applications in other major markets including Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia, Mr Wilkinson said.