Today, shares of Adamas Pharmaceuticals (ADMS) are up for more than 54% on positive late-stage results for Parkinson’s patients. It was a phase 3 trial known as the “EASE” trial that recruited patients with Parkinson’s disease. These patients had a form of Parkinson’s known as Levodopa- induced dyskinesia — LID. 

LID patients voluntary movements increased following the treatment. The treatment with Levodopa has to be increased because treatment with lower doses sometimes becomes ineffective. The company’s drug being tested in these patients with LID is known as ADS-5102, which is an oral extended release capsule. 

During the trial, these patients were given 340 mg of ADS-5102 once daily at bedtime for a total of 24 weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial was to determine if treatment with ADS-5102 could reduce LID. The trial met on the primary endpoint as analysis concluded that the drug was able to reduce LID at week 12 compared to a placebo drug. 

The p-value achieved by ADS-5102 compared to placebo was p = 0.0009, which is statistically significant. The way the p-value was established was by using the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale. There are no approved therapies to help these patients that have Parkinson’s Disease LID, therefore this therapy will be a huge help in treatment options. Adamas is now preparing to talk with the FDA for the next steps of the program, which includes being able to file an NDA for approval.