Voyager rockets after hours on PD gene therapy data

Voyager Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VYGR) gained $5.52 (40%) to $19.25 in early after-hours trading Wednesday when it announced interim results from a Phase Ib study of Parkinson’s Disease gene therapy VY-AADC01. The data showed the higher of two tested doses increased biomarker activity and led to improvements on a disease severity scale in patients with advanced PD. Subjects receiving the higher dose also were able to reduce use of daily medications.

A five-patient cohort receiving the high dose had 56% greater activity of dopa decarboxylase (DDC; AADC) compared to baseline and were able to reduce intake of daily PD medications, including levodopa, by 34% after six months. The cohort also had a 56% improvement in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III) on medication at six months, with the effect sustained at 12 months. ...