Copaxone repairs nerve tissue in multiple sclerosis patients

Teva reported the results of a 12-month MRI study on the evolution of multiple sclerosis lesions.

3 January 12 16:47, Globes' correspondent

Copaxone repairs nerve tissue in multiple sclerosis patients, said Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) today in reporting the results of a 12-month MRI study on the evolution of multiple sclerosis lesions. The study was published in the January issue of "Frontiers in Bioscience".

“These data indicate that treatment with Copaxone resulted in a measureable amount of tissue repair in study patients,” said the lead research Dr. Robert Zivadinov, Director of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center at the University at Buffalo. “The observed increases in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) point to a potential for remyelination. Overall, these findings contribute to the vast body of research that supports the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy."

The researchers found that multiple sclerosis patients treated with Copaxone experienced significantly increased magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) - a nonconventional MRI technique used to investigate abnormalities in brain structures, and increased values indicate potential remyelination (re-generation of the nerve's myelin sheath) and axonal tissue repair in the patients' brains.

Teva added that this was the first study to evaluate multiple sclerosis lesions as potential evidence for remyelination in patients treated with Copaxone.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 3, 2012

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