Parkinson's Drug Awaits OK While ADHD Lifts Impax Now

While its long-awaited novel drug to treat Parkinson's disease inches closer to the finish line,Impax Laboratories ( IPXL ) has found other ways to keep its growth engine humming.

Products treating migraine headache and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have recently led the way.

Revenue from the two treatments powered Impax's second-quarter results, which in turn lifted shares more than 8% July 31, the day of the report, to over 22. They've since climbed a bit higher.

Hayward, Calif.-based Impax is a specialty drug company that has built a reputation on controlled-release oral delivery techniques. It focuses on both generic and branded drugs, especially for disorders of the central nervous system.

But it's Rytary, Impax's first internally developed branded drug for Parkinson's disease, that could be the big game-changer. The drug is also known by its filing name, IPX066.

Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative movement disorder afflicting more than 3 million people in the U.S., Europe and Japan alone. Impax will have a lock on the big U.S. market.GlaxoSmithKline ( GSK ) is licensed to sell Rytary outside the U.S. and Taiwan.

Better Efficacy

Rytary is an extended release capsule reformulation of an immediate release version containing the treatment standard bearer, levodopa. It's meant to maintain more consistent and longer-lasting improvements in patients.

"Clinicians are pretty enthusiastic about the better efficacy and with what appears to be fewer side effects," said Cowen & Co. analyst Ken Cacciatore.

Analysts expect Rytary to generate more than $300 million in annual sales as the product fully ramps up about five years after the launch date, which is expected to occur early next year.

See the original post:
Parkinson's Drug Awaits OK While ADHD Lifts Impax Now