AB Science published a medRxiv preprint analyzing long-term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis survivors treated with masitinib 4.5 mg/kg/day in the phase 2b/3 AB10015 study.
The company claims the analysis of 130 masitinib-treated patients showed a 5-year survival rate from disease onset of 42.3%, rising to 52.9% in patients without prior complete loss of functionality, versus historical benchmarks the company cites at about 23.5%.
Among long-term survivors (n=55), the company reports a median overall survival of 121 months, compared with 42 months predicted by the ENCALS model, representing a 79-month residual median survival gain. Additionally, 49% of these survivors maintained a satisfactory quality of life without the need for mechanical assistance.
AB Science describes masitinib as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting microglial and mast cell activity and says these findings support a prospective confirmatory trial, AB23005, which will randomize 408 patients to masitinib plus riluzole or riluzole plus placebo. According to the company, these results are presented in the medRxiv preprint.
