Shire plc (SHP.L, SHPGY) reported new data that demonstrate velaglucerase alfa for injection or VPRIV, the company's enzyme replacement therapy for type 1 Gaucher disease, significantly improved selected markers of Gaucher-related bone disease in patients. The data presented show that VPRIV improves Gaucher-related bone disease by a sustained increase in bone mineral density or BMD.
Results from a head-to-head Phase III study of VPRIV and Cerezyme, and follow-on extension trial of VPRIV, show a statistically significant improvement in lumbar spine BMD in Gaucher patients starting at nine months of treatment with VPRIV. Clinically and statistically significant improvement from baseline in mean LS Z-score was witnessed at 9 months of treatment with VPRIV, but not in the cohort of patients treated with Cerezyme.
In Gaucher disease patients, BMD is generally reduced compared to individuals without Gaucher disease, often resulting in lower Z-scores.
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