Teva completes enrolment for new Copaxone trial

Teva has completed enrolment for a new clinical trial of its long-established multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Copaxone (glatiramer acetate).

More than 1,400 patients at 180 sites have been recruited to take part in the international Gala trial, which evaluates a thrice-weekly 40mg injection-based administration regime among relapsing-remitting MS patients.

The primary endpoint of the study, which is taking place in the US, Europe and Israel, will be to reduce the total number of confirmed relapses compared to placebo over a 12-month period.

Data from the new trial will add to the more than 20 years of safety and efficacy information that has been collated on Copaxone to date.

Professor Yitzhak Peterburg, Teva's group vice-president for global branded products, said: "With glatiramer acetate 40mg three times a week, we hope to further enhance the patient experience over the long term."

According to the firm's most recent financial report, Copaxone remained the world's leading MS therapy in the first quarter of 2011, with an improved market share of 31 percent.