Acorda Therapeutics

About Acorda Therapeutics

Acorda Therapeutics is a privately held biotechnology company developing therapies for spinal cord injury (SCI) and related neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The Company's lead product, Fampridine-SR, is in Phase 3 clinical trials for chronic SCI and Phase 2 for MS.
Fampridine-SR acts to combat the effects of demyelination in the spinal cord. Myelin is the insulating sheath around nerve processes; when it is damaged due to trauma or disease, electrical impulses from the brain cannot be conducted past the demyelinated area. Fampridine-SR chemically blocks the exposed voltage-gated potassium channels, allowing the impulse from the brain to be conducted more normally past the area of damage. Fampridine is being studied in Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy in reducing spasticity in people with chronic spinal cord injury. Secondary endpoints in the study include evaluating its effect on bladder, bowel, and sexual function. The Company is also conducting a 152 patient, late Phase 2 clinical study in MS to evaluate Fampridine-SR's efficacy in walking speed and muscle strength.
Acorda's technology platform also includes two remyelinating agents in preclinical development for MS. The first is M1, a class of human monoclonal antibodies that have been shown to remyelinate the central nervous system in animal models, and the second is GGF2, a product of the neuregulin 1 gene. Preclinical studies have shown that GGF2 can stimulate the cell growth necessary to protect and regenerate damaged myelin. Additionally, Acorda is developing protein- and stem cell-based technologies for regeneration and repair of the spinal cord and brain.
In 2002, Acorda was the recipient of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association's L. W. Freeman Award for scientific research.
Key Management:
Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO Andrew R. Blight, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research & Development Mary Fisher, Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Planning Elliott A. Gruskin, Ph.D., Vice President, Research & Development Mitchell Katz, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical Programs David Lawrence, Vice President, Finance Mark R. E. Pinney, C.F.A., Chief Financial Officer and Director Harold Safferstein, Ph.D., J.D., Vice President, Business Development
Last Updated: 05-09-03