Teva and Sanofi Announce Duvakitug (Anti-TL1A) Positive Phase 2b Results Demonstrating Best-in-Class Potential in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

Rhea-AI Summary

Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi announced positive Phase 2b results for duvakitug, their joint inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. The RELIEVE UCCD study met primary endpoints for both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). In UC patients, duvakitug achieved clinical remission rates of 36.2% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) compared to 20.45% for placebo. For CD patients, endoscopic response rates were 26.1% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) versus 13.0% for placebo.

The treatment showed consistent effects across subgroups and was generally well tolerated, with adverse events equally distributed between treatment and placebo groups (50% vs 50%). These results represent the highest achieved with any TL1A monoclonal antibody. Both companies plan to initiate Phase 3 development pending regulatory discussions.

Positive

• Phase 2b trial met primary endpoints for both UC and CD treatments
• High-dose treatment showed significant improvement vs placebo (47.8% vs 20.45% in UC, 47.8% vs 13.0% in CD)
• Treatment demonstrated best-in-class potential with highest achieved results for TL1A antibody
• Safety profile shows good tolerability with no significant safety signals

Negative

• Low-dose efficacy showed marginal statistical significance (p=0.050 for UC, p=0.058 for CD)
• Phase 3 trials still pending regulatory discussions

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The Phase 2b RELIEVE UCCD study results for duvakitug represent a significant breakthrough in IBD treatment. The high-dose efficacy data showing 47.8% clinical remission in UC and 47.8% endoscopic response in CD, compared to placebo rates of 20.45% and 13.0% respectively, are remarkably strong. These placebo-adjusted differences are among the highest reported for any TL1A antibody, suggesting potential best-in-class efficacy. The consistent treatment effect across subgroups and favorable safety profile, with no new safety signals and balanced adverse event rates between treatment and placebo groups, further strengthen the drug's clinical potential. This positions duvakitug as a promising new therapeutic option in the IBD space, where there remains significant unmet need.

Financial Analyst

This positive Phase 2b data represents a major milestone for both Teva and Sanofi in the lucrative IBD market, currently valued at over $20 billion annually. The impressive efficacy results, particularly in the high-dose groups, suggest strong commercial potential if replicated in Phase 3 trials. The partnership between Teva and Sanofi combines Teva's development expertise with Sanofi's global commercial reach, potentially maximizing the drug's market penetration. Given the substantial market opportunity and the drug's potential best-in-class profile, successful development could generate significant revenue for both companies. The advancement to Phase 3 trials, pending regulatory discussions, indicates confidence in the program's commercial viability.

Teva hosting investor call today at 8:00 a.m. ET (U.S.)

• Primary endpoints met in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Primary endpoint results in UC and CD for high dose represent the highest achieved with any TL1A monoclonal antibody
• Sanofi and Teva plan to initiate Phase 3 development in IBD, pending regulatory discussions
  

PARSIPPANY, N.J. and PARIS, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), and Sanofi today announce that the Phase 2b RELIEVE UCCD study met its primary endpoints in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). RELIEVE UCCD investigated duvakitug (TEV’574/SAR447189), a human IgG1-λ2 monoclonal antibody targeting TL1A, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In the RELIEVE UCCD study, 36.2% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) of patients with UC treated with duvakitug achieved clinical remission compared to 20.45% on placebo, placebo-adjusted rates were 15.7% (low dose) and 27.4% (high dose), at week 14 (p=0.050 and 0.003 respectively).* In patients with CD, 26.1% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) treated with duvakitug achieved endoscopic response compared to 13.0% on placebo, placebo-adjusted rates were 13.0% (low dose) and 34.8% (high dose), at week 14 (p= 0.058 and <0.001, respectively).* Overall, the treatment effect was consistent across subgroups. This is the first and only randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the impact of an anti-TL1A monoclonal antibody in CD. Detailed results are expected to be presented at a scientific forum in 2025.

Duvakitug was generally well tolerated in both UC and CD with no safety signal identified. Overall rates of treatment emergent adverse events (AE) were similar between duvakitug and placebo across both UC and CD (50% vs 50%). All AEs reported across both UC and CD were less than 5%.

“The results from the RELIEVE UCCD study have exceeded our expectations, and I am deeply moved by the potential for duvakitug to help treat and meaningfully improve the quality of life of people living with IBD,” said Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva. “These positive results reinforce Teva's ability to develop and accelerate access to innovative medicines. We are excited to collaborate on the next phase of development with our partner, Sanofi, and we would like to thank the investigators and patients who participated in this study.”

“These unprecedented results show that duvakitug could represent the next frontier in treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. If the magnitude of effect persists in the Phase 3 program, we believe we will have a differentiated medicine for IBD patients who are in urgent need of new options,” said Houman Ashrafian, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D at Sanofi. “The duvakitug program and this partnership underscore Sanofi’s strategy of following the science to identify and rapidly advance breakthrough medicines for patients.”

Duvakitug is currently under clinical investigation, and its efficacy and safety have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

Teva Investor Call
Teva will hold an investor call and live webcast today (Tuesday, December 17, 2024) at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the topline results. To participate, please register in advance here to obtain a local or toll-free phone number and your personal pin. A live webcast of the call will also be available on Teva's website at: https://ir.tevapharm.com/Events-and-Presentations.

About Inflammatory Bowel Disease  

UC and CD, the two main types of IBD, are chronic inflammatory conditions of the GI tract resulting in debilitating and persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue and weight loss.^1,2 Prolonged inflammation can lead to damage within the GI tract, including fibrosis, a common complication of IBD characterized by an excessive accumulation of scar tissue in the intestinal wall, which may cause narrowing and obstruction often requiring hospitalization and surgery. There is currently no cure for IBD – the goal of treatment is to induce and maintain remission and prevent flares.³ 

About the RELIEVE UCCD Phase 2b Study

RELIEVE UCCD is a 14-week Phase 2b, randomized, double-blinded, dose-ranging study to determine the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of duvakitug in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD). In the study, patients who met pre-specified inclusion criteria were randomized to receive one of two duvakitug doses or placebo, administered every two weeks subcutaneously, in a 1:1:1 ratio for each indication (UC or CD) stratified by previous exposure to advanced IBD therapies [yes (either biologics/small molecule) or no] for 14 weeks.

Participants who completed the 14-week induction study were eligible to participate in a long-term extension (LTE) study, currently ongoing. Responders from the induction study could enter the LTE directly into a 44-week maintenance period to receive a low or high dose every four weeks. Non-responders could enter a 14-week re-induction period. Responders to re-induction entered the 44-week maintenance period. Participants who responded during the maintenance period are eligible for an open-label period within the LTE. Primary efficacy endpoints for both the 14-week induction study and the 44-week maintenance study are the number of participants who show clinical remission (as defined by the modified Mayo score) in the UC cohort or the number of participants who show endoscopic response (as defined by the SES-CD endoscopic score for CD) in the CD cohort. The study includes sites in the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Asia.^4,5

About Duvakitug

Duvakitug is a potential best-in-class human IgG1-λ2 monoclonal antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like ligand 1A (TL1A), also known as TNF superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15). TL1A signaling is believed to amplify inflammation and drive fibrosis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through binding its receptor, DR3; thus, targeting TL1A with duvakitug may mitigate the over-active immune response in these conditions. Duvakitug is currently in a Phase 2b clinical study for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD)S, the two most common types of inflammatory bowel disease. The safety and efficacy of duvakitug have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.

About the Teva and Sanofi Collaboration

Teva and Sanofi are collaborating to co-develop and co-commercialize Teva’s duvakitug for the treatment of UC and CD. Each company will equally share the development costs globally, and the net profits and losses in major markets, with other markets subject to a royalty arrangement. Sanofi will lead the Phase 3 clinical development program. Teva will lead commercialization of the product in Europe, Israel and specified other countries, and Sanofi will lead commercialization in North America, Japan, other parts of Asia and the rest of the world.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a global pharmaceutical leader with a category-defying portfolio, harnessing our generics expertise and stepping up innovation to continue the momentum behind the discovery, delivery, and expanded development of modern medicines. For over 120 years, Teva’s commitment to bettering health has never wavered. Today, the company’s global network of capabilities enables its 37,000 employees across 58 markets to push the boundaries of scientific innovation and deliver quality medicines to help improve health outcomes of millions of patients every day. To learn more about how Teva is all in for better health, visit www.tevapharm.com.

About Sanofi

We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “may,” “project,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to successfully develop duvakitug for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), including to proceed to Phase 3 study and obtain required regulatory approvals; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products; our ability to successfully execute our Pivot to Growth strategy, including to expand our innovative and biosimilar medicines pipeline and profitably commercialize the innovative medicines and biosimilar portfolio, whether organically or through business development, and to sustain and focus our portfolio of generic medicines; the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2024, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Teva Media Inquiries
TevaCommunicationsNorthAmerica@tevapharm.com
Teva Investor Relations Inquires
TevaIR@Tevapharm.com

Sanofi Media Inquiries - Evan Berland
+1 215 432 0234 | evan.berland@sanofi.com 
Sanofi Investor Inquiries - Thomas Kudsk Larsen
+ 44 7545 513 693 | thomas.larsen@sanofi.com

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* As measured by the Modified Mayo Score (MMS) and as measured by the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD), respectively. P-values reported are one-sided at a significance level of 0.10.

1. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.html. Accessed December 2024.
2. Ulcerative Colitis Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/about/ulcerative-colitis-uc-basics.html. Accessed December 2024.
3. McDowell, C., Farooq, U., & Haseeb, M. (2020). Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470312/. Accessed December 2024.
4. A Study to Test the Effect of TEV-48574 in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease (RELIEVE UCCD) https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05499130?term=TEV-48574&rank=2. Accessed December 2024.
5. A Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Effect of TEV-48574 in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05668013?term=TEV-48574&rank=1. Accessed December 2024.
   
   

FAQ

What were the clinical remission rates for TEVA's duvakitug in ulcerative colitis?

In the Phase 2b trial, duvakitug achieved clinical remission rates of 36.2% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) compared to 20.45% for placebo in UC patients.

How effective was TEVA's duvakitug in treating Crohn's disease?

In CD patients, duvakitug achieved endoscopic response rates of 26.1% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) compared to 13.0% for placebo.

What are the safety results for TEVA's duvakitug in IBD treatment?

Duvakitug was generally well tolerated with no safety signals identified. Adverse events were equally distributed between treatment and placebo groups at 50%, with all specific AEs reported at less than 5%.

When will TEVA and Sanofi begin Phase 3 trials for duvakitug?

Teva and Sanofi plan to initiate Phase 3 development for duvakitug in IBD following regulatory discussions, with specific timing not yet announced.

When will detailed results of TEVA's RELIEVE UCCD study be presented?

Detailed results from the RELIEVE UCCD study are expected to be presented at a scientific forum in 2025.