Questcor's Kidney Disease Drug Shows Potential

Questcor Pharmaceuticals has announced that its clinical study on the effectiveness of its kidney disease drug, Acthar Gel, has produced positive results. Acthar was tested on 20 patients with nephrotic syndrome due to idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) at two major academic centers, Mayo Clinic and the University of Toronto. The researchers found that the drug was well tolerated by patients, and that it could potentially induce remission of proteinuria in patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome due to iMN.

Researchers also found that anti-PLA2R antibodies, which are immunological markers of iMN disease activity, were cleared from patients as their proteinuria conditions improved due to Acthar treatment.

The only side effects reported were changes in mood, weight gain, and transient insomnia.

 Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that can cause proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and edema. If untreated, it could lead to end stage renal disease that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Steve Cartt, COO of Questcor, released a statement in the company’s press release. “This important independent academic study adds significantly to the growing body of clinical evidence for Acthar in the treatment of patients suffering from idiopathic types of nephrotic syndrome,” said Cartt. “As a company, we continue to actively support both company-sponsored research and independent academic research evaluating Acthar in on-label indications such as the one studied in this trial, as well as in other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders having high unmet medical need.”

The study’s results were published in the journal Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, and appear in the journal’s most current edition.