Special Report: Market Opportunities in Symptomatic Treatments of Multiple Sclerosis

Current treatment for the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) is dominated by generic, off-label therapies with mixed efficacy or modest clinical trial evidence. Acorda Therapeutics' Ampyra, Allergan's Botox, and Avanir Pharmaceuticals' Nuedexta make up the crop of new niche agents in the United States indicated specifically for the treatment of individual symptoms that commonly occur in patients with this chronic disease. Although these agents are available, demand for additional therapies that offer relief of disabling MS-related symptoms remains high, and agents that can demonstrate clinically meaningful efficacy have the potential to command sizable prices and enjoy modest uptake in discrete, and in some cases sizable, patient subgroups in this lucrative market.

Questions Answered in This Report:

• Since 2010, three therapeutics-Acorda Therapeutics' Ampyra, Allergan's Botox, and Avanir Pharmaceuticals' Nuedexta-have launched that are indicated specifically for the treatment of individual symptoms frequently experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). What niche will each of these agents fill? What is the market outlook for these specialized drugs? What are the peak-year sales estimates for these agents? What are interviewed thought leaders' opinions of these agents?
• Use of currently available, off-label generic drugs dominates the management of most MS-associated symptoms. Which specific symptoms are the most underserved by available off-label therapies? How will this situation affect the uptake of recently launched and emerging therapies approved specifically for the treatment of a given MS-associated symptom?
• A number of reformulations and indication extensions of existing agents are being investigated for the treatment of individual MS symptoms, but few new molecular entities are in development. What is the market potential of each of these emerging agents in the MS arena?