Teva to Discuss MS and Huntington’s Therapies at Premier Neurology Conference

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will discuss two of its multiple sclerosis therapies, one that reduces relapses and one that appears to protect nerve structure, at a premier neurology conference in Boston this month.

It will also give presentations at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology on therapies it is developing for three central nervous system disorders. The event will be from April 22-28.

The MS presentations will cover Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection), an approved treatment for relapsing MS, and Laquinimod, an investigational therapy for both the relapsing and progressive forms of the disease.

Teva is still developing central nervous system therapies. Deutetrabenazine is a treatment for tardive dyskinesia, a disease characterized by involuntary and abnormal movements of the jaw, lips and tongue. Ridopidine is a therapy for Huntington’s, an inherited disease that causes the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Fremanezumab (TEV-48125) is a migraine-prevention treatment.

“Teva is dedicated to the ongoing evaluation of its therapies to ensure the delivery of safe and effective treatments for often under-recognized or difficult-to-treat CNS [central nervous system] disorders,” Michael Hayden, the chief scientific officer at Teva, said in a press release.

“The data to be presented at AAN [the neurology conference] highlight our continued progress and comprehensive research across our central nervous system portfolio in order to grow our understanding of the potential of our therapies, and continue delivering therapies to patients in need.” Hayden added.

Fifty countries have approved Copaxone, including the United States, all of Europe, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Israel. The therapy reduces the frequency of relapses, studies have shown.

Tesla is developing Laquinimod, an immunomodulator of the central nervous system, as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). It also may work as a treatment for  Huntington’s disease, the company said.

Laquinimod is thought to stop immune cells from entering the brain and spinal cord, which could lead to less damage to myelin, the sheaf that protects nerve cells. Early studies suggest that the drug can not only protect nerve structure and function, but also reduce inflammation.

For a complete list of the Teva Pharmaceutical presentations in Boston, visit this link.