Ipsen reveals promising results from a Phase IIIb/IV ENGAGE trial

limb spasticity is a disorder that hampers the movement of the arms by stiffing the muscles. Spasticity is a result of the body’s damaged nervous system, which generally occurs due to disease, injury or stroke. Several pharma companies have started to develop novel treatments to treat this condition, via clinical trials.

Ipsen is one such pharmaceutical company that has recently announced its initial findings from the ENGAGE trials which claims that the concurrent treatment of Dysport for both lower and upper limb spasticity in adult patients with a GSC (Guided Self-rehabilitation Contract) showed encouraging results, with better voluntary movement as measured by a CXA (composite active range of motion) outcome.

According to reliable sources, the findings from the trial will be shown at the MDS International Congress in France. Moreover, ENGAGE is first study that investigates treatment with Dysport in patients with spastic hemiparesis in both lower and upper limbs accompanied with GSC.

Speaking on the announcement, Professor Jean-Michel Gracies, Primary investigator for ENGAGE and the Chair in the Department of Neurorehabilitation, Henri Mondor Hospital, said that the study offers understanding into treatment that can progress the results of patients suffering from spastic paresis, particularly the part of GSC fused with Dysport for the development of voluntary movement.

Moreover, longer time to reinjection and stronger active motion improvements were witnessed in ENGAGE compared to earlier Dysport studies which indicate a synergistic effect of combining a GSC intervention to treatment with Dysport for patients with upper limb and lower limb spasticity, cites Gracies.

Prior to this recent advancement, Ipsen had made headlines by entering into an agreement to acquire Clementia Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage company focusing on developing treatments for people with ultra-rare bone disorders and other diseases with unmet clinical needs.

Reports cite that the deal included Ipsen acquiring Clementia’s investigational RARy (retinoic acid receptor gamma) selective agonist, for the treatment of FOP (fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive), late-stage clinical asset palovarotene, multiple osteochondromas (MO) and several other diseases.

Moreover, the acquisition was intended to leverage Clementia’s expertise in order to strengthen its Rare Disease portfolio with an hope to offer cutting-edge treatments to patients who have high medical needs.

Source Credit: https://www.ipsen.com/press-releases/6619/#