General - Wednesday, October 7, 2009 20:03 - 5 Comments

Avanir Pharmaceuticals AVNR 2.44 Up 0.31 (14.55%) on Patent For Neurological Disorder Drug

Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc (AVNR.O) is trading up on news about Zenvia which treats pseudobulbar affect (PBA) which is the primary goal of their late-stage study.

Labile affect or pseudobulbar affect refers to the pathological expression of laughter, crying, or smiling. It is also known as emotional lability, pathological laughter and crying, emotional incontinence, or, more recently, involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED).[1] Patients may find themselves laughing uncontrollably at something that is only moderately humorous, being unable to stop themselves for several minutes. Episodes may also be mood-incongruent: a patient might laugh uncontrollably when angry or frustrated, for example.

Labile affect is most commonly observed after brain injury, people with dementia expressing a psychosis of some sort, or degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig disease), a form of motor neuron disease. It affects up to 50% of patients or up to 17,000 people, particularly those with pseudobulbar palsy.[2] It also occurs in approximately 10% of multiple sclerosis patients[3], signalling a degree of cognitive impairment. It is also currently being considered for inclusion in the DSM as one of the two symptoms (of five possible) which must be present for a diagnosis of ADHD in adults.

While not as profoundly disabling as the physical symptoms of these diseases, labile affect can have a significant impact on individuals’ social functioning and their relationships with others. In motor neuron disease, the majority of patients are cognitively normal; however, the appearance of uncontrollable emotions is commonly associated with learning disabilities. This may lead to severe embarrassment and avoidance of social interactions for the patient, which in turn has an impact on their coping mechanisms and their careers.

Treatment for labile affect is usually pharmacological, using antidepressants such as fluoxetine, citalopram, or amitriptyline in low to moderate doses. In the USA, a combination of dextromethorphan and a subtherapeutic dose of quinidine has been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to treat emotional lability.

Sourced Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labile_affect

Avanir received a notice of allowance of a new patent on its lead drug candidate Zenvia that will extend the period of commercial exclusivity for the neurological disorder pill well into 2025.

Shares are trading at 2.45 Up 0.32 (15.02%) in the late afternoon.

PBA has it way with about 2,000,000 American suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis), Lou Gehrig’s disease, stroke and other  diseases or injuries that can cause brain trauma or lesions.

“We were little bit surprised that they got it (new patent) this early. I was expecting it later,” said Summer Street Research analyst Carol Werther, who has a “buy” rating on Avanir shares.

About Avanir Pharmaceuticals

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company, focuses on developing, acquiring, and commercializing therapeutic products for the treatment of chronic diseases primarily in the United States. The company’s product candidates address therapeutic markets that include the central nervous system and inflammatory diseases. Its lead product candidate Zenvia, a Phase III clinical development stage product for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA) and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPN pain). The company’s commercialized product, Abreva, an over-the-counter product for the treatment of cold sores, which is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in North America. Its inflammatory disease program, which targets macrophage migration inhibitory factor is partnered with Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd. Avanir Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California.