|
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech today announced completion of patient enrollment for the Phase III clinical trial, Allegro, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)
Jerusalem, Israel and Lund, Sweden | November 18, 2008 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) today announced completion of patient enrollment for the Phase III clinical trial, Allegro, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The pivotal Allegro study is designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the oral investigational compound, laquinimod, versus placebo in the treatment of RRMS.
The Allegro study completed patient screening at the end of the third quarter. Recruitment of over 1,000 patients at 152 sites throughout North America, Europe and Asia was finalized in November. The completion of recruitment triggers a milestone payment of $5 million to Active Biotech from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
A second pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating laquinimod, called Bravo, is currently enrolling patients globally. The Bravo trial aims to provide risk-benefit data for laquinimod versus Avonex®, an available injectable treatment.
Previous data from the phase IIb core study and its 36-week extension period (presented at the World Congress on Treatment and Research in MS in September) demonstrated the rapid onset and sustained efficacy of laquinimod in reducing disease activity, as well as the favorable safety profile of the compound.
For more information on the ongoing laquinimod Phase III clinical program, please visit www.TevaClinicalTrials.com or call 1-866-550-0614.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of neurological disability in young adults. It is estimated that more than 400,000 people in the United States are affected by the disease and that two million people may be affected worldwide. MS is a progressive, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Demyelination is the destructive breakdown of the fatty tissue that protects nerve endings.
About Laquinimod
Laquinimod is a novel once-daily, orally administered immunomodulatory compound that is being developed as a disease-modifying treatment for RRMS. Active Biotech developed laquinimod and licensed it to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. in June 2004. Results from a Phase IIb study in 306 patients were published in June 2008 in The Lancet and reported that an oral 0.6 mg dose of laquinimod, administered daily, significantly reduced MRI disease activity by a median of 60 percent (51 percent mean reduction) versus placebo in RRMS patients. In addition, the study showed a favorable trend toward reducing annual relapse rates and in the number of relapse-free patients compared with placebo. Treatment was well tolerated, with some transient and dose-dependent increases in liver enzymes reported, without clinically-evident liver damage.
In addition to the efficacy that laquinimod has shown in Phase II RRMS clinical trials, laquinimod has demonstrated potent therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models of other autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Guillain Barr Syndrome, lupus and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The broad profile of efficacy in animal models of inflammatory diseases suggests that laquinimod affects a pivotal pathway of inflammation and autoimmunity. Teva expects to initiate the clinical development of laquinimod for Crohn's disease and Lupus Nephritis in the near future.
About the Phase III Program
Allegro (assessment of oral laquinimod in preventing progression of MS) is a pivotal, global, 24/30-month, double-blind, Phase III study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of laquinimod versus placebo in the treatment of RRMS.
Bravo (benefit-risk assessment of Avonex® and laquinimod) is a pivotal, multinational, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study designed to compare the safety and efficacy of laquinimod with placebo and to provide risk-benefit data for laquinimod versus a currently available injectable treatment. The enrollment goal is approximately 1,200 patients with RRMS.
The global clinical program will include centers throughout the United States as well as centers in Canada, Europe, and Israel. To learn more about Teva's ongoing clinical trials, please visit www.TevaClinicalTrials.com or call 1-800-840-5601.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA), headquartered in Israel, is among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world and is the world's leading generic pharmaceutical company. The Company develops, manufactures and markets generic and innovative human pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Over 80 percent of Teva's sales are in North America and Europe.
About Active Biotech
Active Biotech AB (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI), headquartered in Sweden, is a biotechnology company with R&D focus on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancer. Projects in pivotal phase are laquinimod, an orally administered small molecule with unique immunomodulatory properties for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, as well as ANYARA for use in cancer targeted therapy, primarily renal cancer. Further key projects in clinical development comprise the three orally administered compounds TASQ for prostate cancer, 57-57 for SLE and RhuDex® for RA. Please visit www.activebiotech.com for more information.
SOURCE: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
