Teva Reports Positive Phase 2a Trial Results for Celiac Disease Antibody

Pharmaceutical giant Teva announced on Wednesday encouraging preliminary results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of its antibody, TEV '408, as a treatment for celiac disease. The antibody, which targets IL-15, also showed promising outcomes in trials for the skin condition vitiligo.

Teva estimates the sales potential for the celiac disease treatment alone to be between $1.5 billion and $2 billion if it reaches the market. The trial involved adult celiac patients and met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful prevention of intestinal damage caused by gluten exposure compared to a placebo after eight weeks of treatment. The antibody was well-tolerated, with no safety concerns identified so far.

The company views TEV '408 as a potential "pipeline-in-a-product," capable of treating multiple diseases with shared inflammatory and immune mechanisms. Dr. Eric Hughes, Teva's Senior Vice President and Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer, stated that the results highlight the potential to move beyond managing gluten exposure and treat the disease at its biological root. He added that the findings strengthen Teva's confidence in targeting the IL-15 pathway to reduce 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.