Teva Announces Progress Of Biologic Investigational Drugs Evaluated To Treat Neutropenia In Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) announced today the presentation of clinical results for its biologic oncology candidates, lipegfilgrastim and balugrastim, at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) 2012 International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer being held in New York June 28-30.

Lipegfilgrastim and balugrastim are long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) being evaluated for their ability to reduce the duration of severe neutropenia in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of white blood cells is decreased, leaving patients more susceptible to potentially life-threatening bacterial infections.

Both product candidates have completed phase III clinical trials. In both phase III breast cancer studies the primary endpoint was achieved, demonstrating reduction in the duration of severe neutropenia (DSN) in cycle 1, comparable to pegfilgrastim results in both efficacy and safety measures. Additional data from the phase I, II and III clinical studies of these products, will be presented at the MASCC/ISOO symposium in both oral and poster presentations

“Teva is committed to advancing these investigational biologic drugs, which are the most advanced of several biologic products that we have in development,” said Dr. Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. “Biologics constitute one of the fastest growing segments of the global pharmaceutical market, aimed at offering safe and effective approaches for patients with few therapeutic options.”

About G-CSF

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced by the body to stimulate the bone marrow to produce neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight infection. Chemotherapy can damage the body’s ability to produce neutrophils, thereby causing neutropenia, an abnormally low number of neutrophils. A common side effect of chemotherapy, neutropenia makes patients prone to infection and sepsis. A recombinant form of G-CSF (known as a biologic) is used to treat cancer patients with neutropenia in order to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells.

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