Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Antisense Therapeutics Ltd. announced that ATL/TV1102, a novel, anti-sense drug, significantly reduced disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIa study met its primary endpoint showing a significant reduction by 54.4% (p=0.01) in cumulative number of new active lesions in patients taking ATL/TV1102 for 8 weeks, compared to placebo, as measured by magnetic resonance images (MRI).

Based on these encouraging results, Teva intends to conduct additional pre-clinical and clinical research before continuing to a phase III study with this unique and promising molecule.

The Principal Investigator for the trial, Volker Limmroth MD PhD, chairman of the Department of Neurology, Cologne City Hospitals, Germany, said, "The results of this international multi-center clinical study are very encouraging and demonstrate a highly significant effect for ATL/TV1102 on disease activity in MS patients."

"Following these results, we are planning to continue the development of this new and exciting molecule designed to confirm the efficacy of ATL/TV1102," said Moshe Manor, Teva's Group Vice President, Global Innovative Resources. "Together with Copaxone, a market-leading MS therapy and Laquinimod, an oral MS treatment currently in Phase III studies, Teva continues with its commitment to help MS patients and improve their quality of life."

"We are very pleased with the results of this study. Achieving the primary endpoint to such a significant degree vindicates our efforts in developing this unique drug, the first to use antisense technology in the treatment of MS. We now look forward to continuing the development of ATL/TV1102 for MS with one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world", said Mark Diamond, Chief Executive Officer of Antisense Therapeutics Ltd.

Teva is responsible for funding and performing future development activities as outlined above for ATL/TV1102. This decision by Teva to move forward with the development of ATL/TV1102 triggers a US$4 million milestone payment in accordance with the license agreement between Teva and ANP.

ATL/TV1102 Phase IIa trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of ATL/TV1102. Patients received either ATL/TV1102 or placebo injections subcutaneously at a dose of 200 mg three times a week for the first week and twice weekly over additional 7 weeks after which they were monitored for additional 8 weeks. Assessment was done using monthly MRI brain scans. 77 patients were enrolled in the trial, which was conducted at multiple trial sites across six European countries. The goal of the trial was to obtain preliminary evidence of ATL/TV1102's effectiveness in reducing MS-related MRI brain lesions and assess its safety profile.

In the primary endpoint of the study, ATL/TV1102 showed a significant 54.4% reduction in cumulative number of new active MRI lesions on weeks 4, 8 and 12 (p=0.01).

In addition, patients taking ATL/TV1102 experienced a 65% reduced cumulative number of Gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing lesions on weeks 4, 8, and 12 (p=0.0053). ATL/TV1102 was also effective in significantly reducing T1-enhancing lesion volume by 84% at week 12.

ATL/TV1102 demonstrated an increasing effect with time on the reduction of new active lesions over 12 weeks - one month after the completion of dosing. This extended duration of activity post dosing was anticipated based on the drug's long (>3 week) half-life, and would support the proposition of less frequent dosing than the twice weekly dosing employed in the current trial though this would need to be confirmed in future clinical studies.

Data from this study demonstrated that in general, ATL/TV1102 was well-tolerated. Potentially attributable adverse events included injection site reactions which were mild to moderate and thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was reversible after treatment interruption returning to within normal ranges and was not accompanied with any clinical consequences.

ATL/TV1102 is a 2nd generation antisense drug discovered by Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) and licensed to ANP. Antisense drugs block specifically disease-causing proteins from being produced by interacting with their intended target based on information in the genetic code. ATL/TV1102 is a second generation anti-sense inhibitor of CD49d, a subunit of VLA-4 (Very Late Antigen-4), and is currently in Phase IIa clinical trials as a treatment for MS. In inflammation, white blood cells (leukocytes) move out of the bloodstream into the inflamed tissue, for example, the CNS in MS, and the lung airways in asthma. The inhibition of VLA-4 may prevent white blood cells from entering sites of inflammation, thereby halting progression of the disease. VLA-4 is a clinically validated target in the treatment of MS. Antisense inhibition of VLA-4 has demonstrated positive effects in a number of animal models of inflammatory disease including MS (Myers et al. J Neuroimmunol 160, p12-24, 2005).