Acorda Drug Helps Stroke Patients Walk Better

ARDSLEY, NY (TheStreet) -- Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) announced mixed results from two proof-of-concept studies Monday aimed at expanding the use of its multiple sclerosis walking drug Ampyra to include patients suffering from strokes and cerebral palsy.

In a study of 83 patients who had experienced a stroke at least six months prior to enrollment, use of twice-daily Ampyra significantly improved walking ability compared to a placebo, Acorda said in a statement. The company didn't provide detailed data on Ampyra's efficacy

Three patients reported seizures during the study. One seizure occurred in a patient treated with a placebo. The two other seizure cases involved patients on Ampyra, although one was deemed an intentional overdose and suicide attempt.

"There were clear efficacy signals in the [Ampya] post-stroke deficits trial and we therefore plan to proceed with a clinical development program for this indication," said Acorda CEO Ron Cohen.

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Acorda Drug Helps Stroke Patients Walk Better