Sales of a drug developed by Elan Drug Technologies to assist multiple sclerosis patients in walking have disappointed, its broker said.

Ampyra, developed by EDT but licensed to US biotech Acorda, delivered sales of $46.8 million (€32.6 million) in the first quarter compared to $3.1 million in the same period last year. Davy analyst Jack Gorman said this was lower than the consensus figure of $51 million expected by the market. The drug was launched towards the end of the first quarter last year, he said in a note to investors.

Elan previously said it earned $18.9 million in the same period on the drug for which it gets royalties. Davy said it expected Ampyra to have sales of $205 million to $230 million for the full year.