Teva, Active Biotech Announce Laquinimod Data Published in Neurology

Teva Pharmaceutical and Active Biotech AB have announced that the final report of the Phase II study of laquinimod, which was successfully concluded in September 2003, has been published in Neurology.

Laquinimod is a novel immunomodulatory substance developed by Active Biotech. It has the potential to be the first orally available disease modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). In June 2004, Teva and Active Biotech signed an agreement for the future global development and commercialization of laquinimod.

The objective of the concluded Phase II study was to evaluate, in relapsing MS patients, the efficacy of two doses of laquinimod compared to placebo. Researchers concluded that daily treatment with laquinimod at a dose of 0.3 mg, reduced the mean cumulative number of active lesions by 44 percent compared to placebo. Its safety profile was very favorable; there were no clinical signs of undesired inflammatory manifestations. Currently, additional Phase II studies are ongoing, aimed at evaluating the benefit of higher doses of laquinimod.