Acorda Therapeutics has acquired rights to Zanaflex (tizanidine) from Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc, a subsidiary of Elan Corporation plc. Under the terms of the agreement, Acorda has acquired all sales, marketing and distribution rights in the United States to the Zanaflex tablet, which is currently on the market, as well as to a new, FDA-approved capsule formulation. Elan will supply Acorda with the capsule, for which Elan has retained manufacturing rights. Financial terms were not disclosed, a release from Acorda informed.

Ron Cohen, president and CEO of Acorda, commented, "We are delighted to be able to bring a recognized spasticity treatment to people with spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis, as well as to those with related conditions such as traumatic brain injury and stroke. Zanaflex is an ideal strategic fit for Acorda, given our expertise and ongoing clinical and research programmes in these therapeutic areas. It launches the commercial stage of the company and extends our commitment to deliver therapies to the spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis communities."

David Apple, medical director of the Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, said, "Spasticity is one of the most common and disabling conditions associated with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis, and Zanaflex is an important treatment for this serious quality of life problem. The new capsule formulation increases physicians' options in managing this condition."

Zanaflex is indicated for the management of spasticity. It is thought to reduce spasticity by blocking nerve impulses through pre-synaptic inhibition of motor neurons, resulting in decreased spasticity without a reduction in muscle strength.

Spasticity refers to the often painful involuntary tension, stiffening or contractions of muscles. This condition occurs when the nerve cells in the spinal cord become disconnected from controlling centre in the brain, and therefore transmit unregulated impulses to the muscles. Spasticity is common in neurological disorders where portions of the nervous system that control voluntary movement have been damaged, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke and traumatic brain injury.