Positive new data for Roche's Evrysdi in SMA

Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) today announced new two-year data showing that its Evrysdi (risdiplam) improved or maintained motor function in people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a progressive neuromuscular disease that can be fatal.

The data came from the JEWELFISH study evaluating Evrysdi in people with Type 1, 2 or 3 SMA aged six months to 60 years at time of enrolment. Patients had been previously treated with other approved or investigational SMA-targeting therapies, including nusinersen (Spinraza, from Biogen [Nasdaq: BIIB]) or onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma, from Novartis [NOVN: VX] ). Data showed Evrysdi improved or maintained motor function and led to rapid increases in SMN protein levels which were sustained after 2-years of treatment.

Having entered the competitive SMA market in late 2020, Evrysdi booked sales of around 602 million Swiss francs ($625 million) last year. The SMA market is projected to grow from $980.6 million in 2020 to $2,085.4 million by 2026 at a CAGR of over 13.4%, according to Stratview Research.