Astellas' mirabegron improves key OAB symptoms in Ph III study

The US subsidiary of Japanese drug major Astellas (TSE: 4503) says that the results of a pivotal Phase III clinical trial for mirabegron, the first of a new class of compounds under development for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), showed the drug significantly improves key OAB symptoms - urinary incontinence (leakage of urine) and frequency of micturition (urination) - compared with placebo.

These results were also associated with statistically significant improvements in patient reported outcomes (PROs). Data from this North American study are being presented for the first time in the US at the American Urological Association annual meeting in Washington DC, May 14-19, via two moderated poster sessions.

Although more than 50% of people with OAB in the world's major pharmaceutical markets are undiagnosed, the sizeable prevalent population fuels significant sales for the indication. As a result, the OAB drug market is expected to increase from around $3 billion in 2009 to nearly $4 billion in 2019 in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan, according to advisory firm Decision Resources (The Pharma Letter October 15, 2010).