Phase III trial of laquinimod shows effect on brain tissue damage

Teva/Active Biotech announced the publication of a pre-planned analysis of the Phase III ALLEGRO study demonstrating that once-daily oral laquinimod provides a beneficial impact on brain tissue damage, one of the most destructive aspects of Multiple Sclerosis. These data, �Placebo-controlled trial of oral laquinimod in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence of an effect on brain tissue damage,� is published online in September by the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (JNNP), along with an accompanying editorial titled, �Oral laquinimod for multiple sclerosis: beyond the anti-inflammatory effect,� and can be found on the JNNP website at www.jnnp.bmj.com.

The results showed that when compared with placebo, patients treated with laquinimod experienced decreased rates in brain tissue damage shown by various MRI markers. Specifically, patients receiving laquinimod showed decreased rates of white matter (WM), grey matter (GM) and thalamic atrophy; developed fewer permanent black holes (PBH); and accumulated less damage in normal appearing brain tissue (NABT), WM and GM, when compared to patients receiving placebo.