Active, Teva's laquinimod misses in Phase II for PPMS

Active Biotech AB (SSE:ACTI) said once-daily 0.6 mg oral laquinimod (SAIK-MS) missed the primary endpoint of reducing brain atrophy on MRI as measured by percent brain volume change from baseline to week 48 compared to placebo in the double-blind, international Phase II ARPEGGIO trial to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Laquinimod also missed the secondary endpoint of improving time to confirmed disability progression vs. placebo. Active Biotech said that laquinimod did lead to a reduction in the number of new T2 lesions, another secondary endpoint, but did not disclose details.

Last year, Active and partner Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA; Tel Aviv:TEVA) discontinued the once-daily 1.5 mg dose arm of laquinimod in the trial after it observed non-fatal cardiovascular events in ARPEGGIO and in the CONCERTO trial of laquinimod (see BioCentury, Jan. 11, 2016)...