The clinical profile of Elan Pharmaceuticals' botulinum toxin type B

An extensive clinical-trial programme to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of Elan's botulinum toxin type B solution (NeuroBloc((R))/MYOBLOC (TM)) in patients with cervical dystonia has been implemented. The two key trials, one study in patients responsive to the type A toxin and one study in patients showing secondary nonresponsiveness to the type A toxin, are reviewed here. The data from these large double-blind placebo-controlled trials show that this new formulation of the B sero-type pe is well tolerated and highly efficacious in both patient populations, providing significant improvements in disease severity, pain and disability compared with placebo. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses suggest a duration of treatment effect of approximately 12-16 weeks.