SOM Biotech shared on February 6th a press release where you announced very positive results from the Phase 2 trial that was finished last year. In this trial the drug named SOM3355 in 140 patients. This drug has been used for other diseases for several decades and SOM Biotechs researchers found out it might have a positive effect on the motor symptoms (chorea) in patients with Huntington`s Disease.
You may remember our call to action back in December 2023 when EHA encouraged people to participate in the SOM Biotech trial in order for us to get the treatment tested as fast as possible (Are you ready for a challenge? – European Huntington Association)
Thanks to everyone that did commit and was recruited into the trial, we now have results and they are really positive. The group of patients that was treated with a high dose of SOM3355 showed improvement in their chorea and very little negative side effects. The treated participants did not report any increase in depression, nor cognitive problems (“brain-fog” or difficulties in concentrating and focusing). This is of significant importance, because the most used treatment to ease motor symptoms is in Europe, Tetrabenazine, has showed a quite high risk of increased depression and even higher rates of suicidality as well as negative cognitive impact. The treated trial participants were also 4 times more likely to report satisfaction with the treatment compared to those receiving placebo.
I am very happy for these results, says EHA President Astri Arnesen. – It seems that we now have a drug showing better effect and fewer negative side effects than the very limited treatments we have available today.
I am so proud of the participants and their families for making these results possible and my wish for 2025 is that SOM Biotech use the data to file for approval as soon as possible. Patients need more treatment options – now!
– Article written by Astri Arnesed
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