For many years, multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers have been waiting for a more convenient drug delivery method. To date, these medicines, which reduce and relieve the symptoms of MS, were delivered intravenously, which is not a pleasant process.
In 2000, it looked like Teva was going to change the situation when it embarked on clinical trials for an oral version of its MS therapy, Copaxone (glatiramer acetate).
Today, Teva announced that results of the oral drug trials, carried out in 2000-2004, did not yield results as significant as those for the existing version of the injectable drug. For this reason, Teva and its development partner, Danish company H. Lundbeck A/S (KFX: LUN), have decided to stop tests of oral Copaxone. The final results of the clinical trials that led to this decision were submitted to the companies only this month.
Copaxone is currently Teva's only blockbuster ethical drug, though this may change, as Agilect (rasagiline) for treatment of Parkinson's disease will be released shortly. Copaxone sales crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2005, and it continues to be Teva's most profitable drug.
It should be noted that Teva is not completely shutting down development of alternate deliver forms for Copaxone. Teva's cooperation with Sweden's Active Biotech for the development and marketing of oral MS therapy Laquinmod is still ongoing. This partnership was formed in June 2004, and various clinical trials of the drug were conducted in 2005.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 21, 2006
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