|
 The treatment, developed by the drugmaker's recently acquired
Alexion rare diseases unit, was being tested for Wilson disease, a
genetic condition in which the body's ability to remove excess
copper is compromised.
The experimental oral medicine taken once-daily could provide a less
invasive option for patients who are typically given treatments
which involve injecting a metal removing solution into the blood or
zinc therapy.
"As we advance this first innovation in Wilson disease treatment in
more than 30 years, we will continue to follow these patients long
term to further assess clinical impact on disease symptoms," Alexion
Chief Executive Officer Marc Dunoyer said.
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 Copper build-up can cause liver
disease and psychiatric or neurological
symptoms, such as personality changes, tremors
and difficulty in walking, swallowing or
talking.
The study met the main goal of improvement in
the daily mean copper mobilised from tissues
over a period of 48 weeks. The treatment has
been given an "Orphan Drug" status in the United
States and European Union to help speed up
development.
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru,
Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Krishna
Chandra Eluri)
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