Teva states MS treatment has reached milestone

Teva has reached a milestone in positioning a drug as a cornerstone in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, it has stated.

Copaxone (glatiramer acetane injection) has been approved to be used for patients who have experienced the early stages of the illness.

Around 85 per cent of sufferers first undergo a single neurological alteration known as CIS before they are diagnosed with MS.

The drug has been proved to delay the conversion of the early signs into the disease.

Moshe Manor, vice-president of Teva’s global branded products, stated “Copaxone [is] the world’s leading MS ? modifying therapy”.

He added the approval of it was a highlight for the treatment, along with “the existing long-term safety and efficacy data”.

Copaxone is now approved in 51 countries worldwide, including all European countries and Israel.

Last month, the pharmaceutical company released its forecast for the financial year 2009.

It expects net sales to be between $14.1 billion (ten billion pounds) and $14.6 billion. The firm also added that it predicts that the second half of the year will be stronger than the first.