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Teva and Antisense announce 'significant' MS drug trial results

30 Jun 2008

A novel antisense drug has significantly reduced disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in trials, according to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Antisense Therapeutics.

They say the drug ATL/TV1102 achieved its primary end-point in the phase-two trial, showing a significant reduction compared to placebo in the cumulative number of new active lesions in patients receiving the treatment for eight weeks.

Antisense drugs work by blocking specifically disease-causing proteins from being produced by interacting with their intended target, based on information in the genetic code, the companies report.

Volker Limmroth, principal investigator for the trial and chairman of the department of neurology at Cologne City Hospitals, Germany, comments: "The results of this international multi-centre clinical study are very encouraging and demonstrate a highly significant effect for ATL/TV1102 on disease activity in [multiple sclerosis] patients."

Chief executive officer of Antisense Therapeutics Mark Diamond said achieving the primary endpoint "to such a significant degree" vindicates the companies' efforts in developing the drug, which is the first multiple sclerosis treatment to use antisense technology.

Earlier this month, Teva said its Parkinson's treatment Azilect 1mg met all three primary end-points in a phase-three study.