Shire presents strong Ph III velaglucerase alfa data in Type 1 Gaucher disease and Genzyme Ph II with eliglustat at LDN meeting

UK biopharmaceutical company Shire has presented positive results from its first Phase III study (TKT032) evaluating safety and efficacy of velaglucerase alfa, its investigational enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease. The data were presented at the Lysosomal Disease Network World Symposium in Miami, Florida, USA, where US biotechnology firm Genzyme also revealed new Phase II findings with its potential Gaucher drug eliglustat.

The news saw Shire's stock rise 2.7% to $59.39 in afternoon trading in the USA, but the shares closed just 1.4% higher at £12.55 by the close of trading in London. Shares of Genzyme - which have taken an enormous beating in recent times due to manufacturing contamination problems with its lead Gaucher drug Cerezyme(imiglucerase for injection) - added 1.2% to $55.15. In the third quarter of 2009, Cerezyme sales slumped to $93.6 million, compared with $309.3 million in the same period last year on short supply of the drug (The Pharma Letter October 22, 2009).

Velaglucerase data from a pediatric subgroup of this study and five year follow-up results from a long-term Phase I/II extension study (TKT025 EXT) conducted in adults were also reported and add to the available data on the long-term safety and efficacy of velaglucerase alfa in patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease.