Following the news that Roche has announced new positive two-year data for Evrysdi (risdiplam) in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA);

Philippa Salter, Neurology Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:

“Having been approved earlier this year, Roche’s Evrysdi now reaches the market – albeit a whole four years behind Biogen’s Spinraza (nusinersen), which also has the advantage of 5 years of long-term data behind it. The new data for Evrysdi will help build confidence in its efficacy – as it has demonstrated improvements in motor function in patients after two years of treatment, compared to the one-year data. GlobalData estimates that Evrysdi will reach global sales of $1.8bn by 2026.

“There have also been reports that patients receiving Evrysdi have a more constant response to the drug, compared with Spinraza – where some patients find the benefits of the drug can decline over time between each injection. If this trend continues to be seen, it could prompt patients to switch from Spinraza to Evrysdi – particularly given Roche’s discounted pricing for Evrysdi compared with Spinraza.

“Arguably, the biggest advantage that will enable Evrysdi to compete with Spinraza is its favourable oral route of administration. This offers key benefits compared with Spinraza’s intrathecal route requiring a lumbar puncture in hospital every time the drug needs to be administered. Evrysdi’s oral route of administration also means that the drug can be administered at home – an important consideration for patients who may feel vulnerable from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”