Acorda Therapeutics is very excited and waiting anxiously for the review of their new drug Amaya by the Food and Drug Administration advisory committee. Acorda’s new Amaya drug is targeted for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and it will be reviewed by the FDA on October 14, 2009.

The reason Acorda Therapeutics is really looking forward for the review is because like all other drugs, Amaya drug does not modify the disease. Instead, Amaya aims to improve the MS patient’s walking ability. Additionally, Amaya is a sustained-release tablet that is very different from the other similar drugs available in the market.

Another reason why Acorda Therapeutics are looking forward for a positive response from the FDA panel is because currently the company is only selling Zanaflex which is used for the management of spasticity, and the drug has provided modest profits to Acorda in the first half of 2009. Apart from Amaya, Acorda Therapeutics has nothing in research and development at the moment. Hence, if the FDA approves Amaya, it will be a great boost to the company and Acorda will see more investors investing in their company in the near future. Also, if FDA approved Amaya, Acorda Therapeutics will have to share the success with Elan, which manufactures Amaya drug at present.