After IPO success Biohaven gets fast track status for rare disease drug

Biohaven has received FDA Fast Track Designation for its candidate trigriluzole (BHV-4157), a rare disease treatment currently in phase 2/3 trials.

The drug is being developed for Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), a rare, debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that is estimated to affect around 22,000 people in the US. Standard of care treatment is supportive, with no treatments currently approved for patients with the debilitating condition.

The good news comes hot on the heels of the company’s successful IPO, which raised $168 million in an IPO on  4 May, making it the most successful biotech market flotation this year.

Biohaven specialises in neurological diseases, including rare disorders, and spun out of Yale University with a focus on drugs affecting the glutamatergic system, of which trigriluzole is one.

[caption id="attachment_27785" align="alignnone" width="123"] Biohaven's chief executive Vlad Coric[/caption]

"This Fast Track Designation from the FDA recognises the high unmet medical need in patients with SCA," said Vlad Coric, M.D., CEO of Biohaven.  "Fast track designation will help facilitate Biohaven's development of trigriluzole, and potentially expedite future regulatory review of trigriluzole for patients with SCA."

Topline results from trigriluzole are expected in early 2018, with trials in Friedrich’s Ataxia and Sporadic Ataxia now in phase 1.

Biohaven has expanded its pipeline, having acquired a candidate from AstraZeneca in depression and anxiety.

It has also acquired two migraine candidates from BMS, rimegepant for acute treatment of the condition, and BHV-3500 for the prevention of chronic and episodic migraine.

Rimegepant will begin two phase 3 trials this year, with topline results expected in the acute treatment indication in the first half of 2018.