More MS news articles for December 2002

Unlike Interferon Beta Therapy, Copaxone(R) Does Not Increase Headache In Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Study finds significant differences between most common treatments for MS

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021209/lnm004_1.html

Monday December 9, 8:04 am ET
Source: Teva Neuroscience, Inc
PRNewswire
KANSAS CITY, Mo.

A study recently published in Neurology found that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients taking interferon therapy experienced increased frequency of headache compared to those taking COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection).

The study was conducted by researchers from the Marianne-Strauss-Klinik, Berg and the University of Munich, Germany. The research showed that headache frequency increased by more than 50% in 34% of interferon beta treated patients but only 6% of those on COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection). In two retrospective patient groups, increased headache frequency was reported by 34 percent of patients on interferon beta, but only by six percent of patients during at least six months of COPAXONE® therapy. In a prospective group of patients beginning interferon beta therapy, headache frequency and duration increased by more than 50 percent in 18 percent of all patients and in 35 percent of patients with pre-existing headache during the first six months of treatment.

COPAXONE® is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting MS. The most common side effects of COPAXONE® are redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness.

COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) is now approved in 41 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Israel and all the European countries. In Europe, COPAXONE® is marketed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Aventis Pharma. In North America, COPAXONE® is marketed by Teva Neuroscience.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., headquartered in Israel, is among the top 35 pharmaceutical companies in the world. More than 80 percent of Teva's sales are in North America and Europe. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic and branded human pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Teva's innovative R&D focuses on developing novel drugs for diseases of the central nervous system.

Teva Neuroscience, Inc., is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Call 1-800/887-8100 or log onto http://www.copaxone.com for more information about COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) or multiple sclerosis. COPAXONE® is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. See additional important information at http://www.copaxone.com/pi or call 1-800/887-8100 for electronic releases. For hardcopy releases, please see enclosed full prescribing information.

This release contains forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of management. Such statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause Teva's future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include Teva's ability to successfully develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products, the introduction of competitive generic products, the impact of competition from brand-name companies that sell their own generic products or successfully extend the exclusivity period of their branded products, Teva's ability to rapidly integrate the operations of acquired businesses, the availability of product liability coverage in the current insurance market, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and pending legislation that could affect the pharmaceutical industry, the difficulty of predicting U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and other regulatory authority approvals, the regulatory environment and changes in the health policies and structure of various countries, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products and new therapies, uncertainties regarding market acceptance of innovative products newly launched, currently being sold or in development, the impact of restructuring of clients, reliance on strategic alliances, exposure to product liability claims, dependence on patent and other protections for innovative products, fluctuations in currency, exchange and interest rates, operating results and other factors that are discussed in Teva's Annual Report on Form 20-F and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.