Teva's Copaxone reduced brain volume loss in patients, according to study

JERUSALEM — Multiple sclerosis patients treated with a drug made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries showed a "significant" reduction in their loss of brain volume, according to a new study.

Results of a five-year study published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences found that Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) produced significant reductions in patients' loss of brain volume compared with other disease-modifying therapies.

"These data represent the importance of ongoing research in a practical clinical setting to better understand multiple sclerosis and the impact of therapy on the course of the disease," Teva Neuroscience SVP and general manager Jon Congleton said. "Not only does this study highlight the benefit of Copaxone in reducing brain volume loss, it underscores the value of early treatment in influencing long-term outcomes."

In the study, 121 patients were treated with Copaxone, while 101 were treated with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals' Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) or Pfizer's and EMD Serono's Rebif (interferon beta-1a), and 53 were treated with Biogen Idec's Avonex (interferon beta-1a).

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