Theravance Biopharma Launches Physician Education Campaign for Rare Neurological Disorder

Theravance Biopharma has initiated a new physician education campaign focused on neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare and progressive brain disorder. The campaign, titled "Power in the Periphery," comes ahead of anticipated phase 3 clinical trial results for the company's investigational drug, ampreloxetine.

Campaign Launch and Target Audience

Theravance unveiled its "Power in the Periphery" campaign at the International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, aiming to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about nOH in MSA patients. The initiative includes a dedicated website providing detailed information on the condition's drivers and symptoms.

The campaign targets the estimated 50,000 MSA patients in the United States, of whom 70% to 90% experience nOH symptoms. These symptoms include sudden drops in blood pressure upon standing, leading to lightheadedness, fainting, and fatigue.

Scientific Basis and Educational Content

The campaign's name, "Power in the Periphery," reflects current understanding that MSA primarily affects the central nervous system while leaving peripheral nerves functional. These peripheral nerves continue to produce norepinephrine, a key neurotransmitter in blood pressure regulation.

Theravance's educational website offers text and graphics explaining various nOH drivers, emphasizing that the form seen in MSA patients results from central nervous system degeneration. The site also details how norepinephrine helps prevent dizziness and fainting.

Strategic Preparation for Ampreloxetine

This physician education effort is part of Theravance's broader strategy to prepare for the potential launch of ampreloxetine, their investigational nOH treatment. The drug is designed to selectively inhibit norepinephrine reuptake, potentially improving standing blood pressure and reducing nOH symptoms in MSA patients.

Theravance has been laying groundwork for ampreloxetine through various initiatives, including:

1. A survey of 200 neurologists and cardiologists conducted in late 2024
2. Ongoing disease state education and targeted stakeholder engagement
3. Discussions with payers, as reported in recent earnings calls

The company completed enrollment for the open-label portion of a phase 3 trial in August 2025, with data expected in the first quarter of 2026. Theravance plans to seek FDA approval if the results are positive.

This focused approach follows a previous phase 3 trial that missed its primary endpoint in a broader nOH patient population. However, that study identified a promising efficacy signal in a prespecified subgroup of MSA patients, leading to the current, more targeted clinical development strategy.