Roche’s Parkinson’s Drug Fails Second Mid-Stage Trial, Yet Shows Promising Trends

Clinical Trial Failure:
Roche's experimental drug for Parkinson's disease, prasinezumab, has failed its second mid-stage clinical trial, known as the PADOVA trial14.

Promising Trends:
Despite the failure, the drug showed consistent positive trends across multiple secondary and exploratory endpoints, particularly in patients who were also taking levodopa13.

Further Exploration:
Roche plans to continue evaluating the data and working with health authorities to determine the next steps for the program, citing enough positive signs to merit further exploration13.

Collaboration Background:
Roche gained access to prasinezumab through a collaboration agreement with Prothena, with Roche shouldering the majority of research and commercialization costs1.

Market Reaction:
Despite the trial failure, shares of Prothena were up 34% due to the promising trends and potential for future success1.

Competitive Landscape:
Other companies, such as AbbVie, have seen success with their Parkinson's disease drugs, like tavapadon, which significantly reduced disease burden in a Phase III trial2.

Sources:

1. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/roche-prothena-parkinsons-drug-study-failure/736111/

2. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/abbvies-8-2bn-parkinsons-disease-drug-shines-in-phase-iii-trial/

3. https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/roches-phase-iib-study-of-prasinezumab-missed-primary-endpoint-but-suggests-possible-clinical-benefit-in-early-stage-parkinsons-disease

4. https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/roches-prothena-partnered-parkinsons-drug-fails-mid-stage-trial