Avanir Pharmaceuticals has received a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support a clincial safety and efficacy study evaluating AVP-923 (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate) for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in Parkinson’s disease patients. The placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study will be conducted at three sites in the U.S. and Canada. Participants will receive, at random, two weeks of treatment with AVP-923 and two weeks of placebo treatment, separated by a two-week break. After each two-week treatment period patients will receive a levodopa infusion to test the drug effect on dyskinesia.

Avanir is focused on acquiring and developing drugs for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. AVP-923 is also in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease and central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis, and is undergoing Phase III testing for treating diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

The firm has two marketed products. Nuedexta® is a dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate drug approved for the treatment of Pseudobulbar Affect, a condition in which patients suddenly burst out crying or laughing, and which is caused by underlying neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or ALS. Avanir’s other marketed drug, Abreva (docosanol) is approved for the treatment of orofacial herpes simplex (HSV1). GlaxoSmithKline holds exclusive North American marketing rights to Abreva. 

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