For those of you who missed the previous comment regarding Laquinimod: Exposing the Failure of EAE
“Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA)’s experimental multiple sclerosis pill failed to reduce relapses more than placebo in a clinical trial, ….
The medicine, laquinimod, missed the key goal of the study, the Petach Tikva, Israel-based drugmaker said today in a statement. By contrast, a third group of patients who got Avonex, an older injected treatment from Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB), had fewer relapses than those who got a placebo….
The study reported today, known as Bravo, is the second this year to show disappointing results for the medicine….
“Laquinimod is dead, if not regulatorily, then commercially,” Ori Hershkovitz, a partner at Sphera Funds Management Ltd. in Tel Aviv, said by e-mail…..”
Please see the following for the full press release: Bloomberg
CoI: Multiple
Extra reading: Laquinimod
Prof G, before I vote in your survey on "What would be your priority for MS Research money?”; I need to know what are the differences between options listed. A cure for MS will eradicate all ailments associated with the disease; therefore why give us the options to vote for lesser factors?
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/747361This article says 'Data from the ALLEGRO and BRAVO studies demonstrated that laquinimod reduced disability and brain tissue loss'and it quotes somebody'what I think was surprising was that the effect on disability is larger than the effect on relapses. So you have to ask yourself, what is better at the end of 2 years — to have a better physical condition or an attack less'I think relapses on their own are less of a problem than disability & progression. So why consider this a failure?
Re: "So why consider this a failure?" It is only considered a failure based on the observation the trial did achieve its primary outcome, which is based on a reduction in relapses. The EMA and FDA are therefore unlikely to give it a license based on this. However, its impact on disease progression is very interesting and suggests the drug may be neuroprotective. The company is therefore planning further add-on studies to test the drug for it neuroprotective effects.
Hope the research will help mankind, rather than focus on earning profits for the Company.