FDA approves Taro's Keveyis for hyperkalemic paralysis

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Taro Pharmaceutical Industries’ (NYSE: TARO) Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) 5mg Tablets for the treatment of primary hyperkalemic and hypokalemic periodic paralysis, a group of rare hereditary disorders that cause episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis.

Keveyis is the first medicine approved by the FDA for the treatment of primary periodic paralysis, which is estimated to affect approximately 5,000 people in the USA, according to the company.

“The approval of Keveyis demonstrates the importance of industry, scientific researchers, patient advocates and the FDA working together to identify and bring to market a treatment for primary periodic paralysis,” said Kal Sundaram, chief executive of Taro.