| Acorda Therapeutics®
was established in March 1995 to develop therapies
that restore neurological function to people with
spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS)
and related conditions of the nervous system.
Product Pipeline: Marketed Products
Acorda’s products, ZANAFLEX CAPSULES®
and ZANAFLEX® tablets, are FDA-approved for
the management of spasticity, a symptom of conditions
such as MS and SCI that is commonly characterized
by stiffness or rigidity, restriction of movement
and painful muscle spasms. ZANAFLEX and
ZANAFLEX tablets contain tizanidine hydrochloride,
or tizanidine, one of the two leading treatments
currently used for the management of spasticity.
ZANAFLEX CAPSULES are available in 2mg, 4mg and
6mg doses, while tablet formulations are only available
in 2mg and 4mg doses. The most frequent adverse
events associated with the use of tizanidine are
dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, and dizziness. These
events are generally mild to moderate and are believed
to be dose-related.For
full prescribing information, please click here.
On January 22, 2010 the FDA approved AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine). AMPYRA, which was previously referred to as Fampridine-SR, is an extended release tablet formulation of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP), which was previously called fampridine. For more information on AMPYRA, click here.
Acorda has three preclinical programs focused on
novel approaches to repair damaged components of
the CNS.
- Chondriotinase – This program is based
on the concept of breaking down the matrix of
scar tissue that develops as a result of an injury
to the CNS. Published research has demonstrated
that this scar matrix is partly responsible for
limiting the regeneration of nerve fibers in the
CNS and restricting their ability to modify existing
neural connections. Independent academic laboratories
have also published animal studies showing that
application of chondroitinase results in recovery
of function following injuries to various areas
of the brain and spinal cord.
- Neuregulins – This program is based on
using GGF-2, a neuregulin growth factor to stimulate
remyelination, or repair of the myelin sheath.
In published studies, GGF-2 has been shown to
stimulate remyelination in animal models of MS
and to have other effects in neural protection
and repair. Studies have also shown potential
for cardiac applications of GGF-2, including the treatment of heart failure.
- Remyelinating antibodies – This program
is based on more than 15 years of research performed
at the Mayo Clinic. Studies have demonstrated
the ability of this family of antibodies to stimulate
remyelination in three different animal models
of MS.
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