Teva Reports Positive Early Results for Celiac Disease Antibody

Teva Pharmaceuticals announced encouraging preliminary results from a Phase 2a clinical trial for its antibody, TEV-408, as a potential treatment for celiac disease. The antibody, which targets IL-15, also showed promising outcomes in a separate trial for the skin condition vitiligo.

The celiac disease trial in adults met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in gluten-induced intestinal damage compared to a placebo after eight weeks of treatment. TEV-408 was found to be well-tolerated, with no safety concerns identified to date.

Teva highlighted the antibody's potential as a "pipeline-in-a-product," capable of treating multiple diseases with shared inflammatory and immune mechanisms. The company previously estimated the drug's market potential for celiac disease at $1.5 to $2 billion if approved.

Dr. Eric Hughes, Senior Vice President and Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, stated that current celiac treatment relies solely on a gluten-free diet, which often doesn't fully alleviate symptoms or prevent intestinal damage. He emphasized that these results suggest a way to move beyond managing gluten exposure and address the disease's biological root, reinforcing Teva's focus on the IL-15 pathway to mitigate immune-mediated intestinal damage.

Teva, led by CEO Richard Francis, is listed on the New York and Tel Aviv stock exchanges with a market capitalization of $42.2 billion. The company's stock saw an increase in pre-market trading and on the local exchange following the announcement. The stock has risen 16% year-to-date.