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news.Teva Neuroscience, the US unit of Israeli drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical, has confirmed early reports indicating the superiority of its drug Copaxone to alternative multiple sclerosis treatments.
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The follow-up data from the Teva’s four year trial showed the drug’s efficacy compared with beta interferon therapies.
Final results of a four year study using a prospectively structured clinical database to assess comparative efficacy and safety of multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies, demonstrated that patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) showed superior relapse rate reduction than those treated with beta interferon therapies.
According to the new data, Copaxone produced the largest reduction, relative to pre-treatment in annual relapse rates at two, three, and four years after the initiation of treatment, when compared to three beta interferon therapies, Avonex, Rebif 22 and Betaferon. Additionally, the best treatment adherence and lowest drop-out rate sustained over four years after the initiation of treatment was seen with Copaxone.
During the study 247 patients with RRMS were distributed across the four treatment groups. Group characteristics and baseline demographics were similar among the treatment arms and reflective of a RRMS population. The primary clinical endpoint was reduction of relapse rates relative to the annualized relapse rates for the two years prior to initiating therapy. Data were reported for 24, 36, and 48 months after initiating therapy.
Reduction in annual relapse rate at 48 months was more pronounced in the group treated with Copaxone compared to those receiving beta interferons at a statistically significant level. Those taking Copaxone experienced a 73% reduction in relapse compared to 43% of those given Avonex, 38% from Betaferon and 51% from Rebif.
This pattern of drug performance was consistent when measured at every given time point during the four year study. Additionally, a significantly higher percentage of patients continued Copaxone treatment compared to the beta interferons due to perceived efficacy or lack of side effects at year four, a difference also reported at year two.