Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Active Biotech have amended their marketing and distribution agreement for oral laquinimod, an investigational drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Under the new agreement, Teva extended its marketing and distribution rights to include the Nordic and Baltic regions and Active Biotech will receive higher royalties on sales in these territories.

“We are very excited about the market potential of laquinimod. We believe that laqunimod can be a leading oral therapy for MS as it has the potential to best combine the convenience of an oral formulation with a favorable efficacy, safety and tolerability profile,” said Moshe Manor, Teva’s group vice president, Global Branded Products. “Licensing a promising new therapeutic option is an excellent example of how we plan to execute our branded strategy and expand our innovative pipeline.”

“After working with Teva since 2004 on developing laquinimod we believe that Teva is the optimal marketing and distribution partner in our territory,” said Tomas Leanderson, president and chief executive officer of Active Biotech. “We are also very satisfied with the commercial opportunity this offers to Active Biotech.”

Two Phase III trials to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of laquinimod have completed enrollment and are currently ongoing. In February 2009, laquinimod received Fast Track designation from the FDA and the drug could potentially enter the market as soon as late 2011.