Teva in a major breakthrough: Good news for celiac and skin disease patients
The company reports success in a clinical trial for a drug that blocks an inflammatory protein. The treatment is intended for two different conditions and is expected to advance to later development stages soon.
Pharmaceutical company Teva reports positive preliminary results from a clinical trial of a new experimental drug for the treatment of celiac disease. The drug, TEV '408, successfully met the study's primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful prevention of intestinal damage caused by gluten exposure compared to patients who received a placebo.
The trial, which is ongoing as a phase 2a study, includes 50 adults suffering from celiac disease. After eight weeks of treatment, participants who received the drug showed a reduction in intestinal inflammation and an improvement in digestive symptoms. Regarding safety, Teva reports that the treatment was well tolerated and no new safety signals have been identified to date.
TEV '408 is an experimental antibody developed to block the IL-15 protein, which is involved in inflammatory processes and immune system activity. Teva is also developing the drug for vitiligo, with the development program for the skin disease expected to move to phase 2b soon following encouraging results.
This development may be significant for celiac patients, as it is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting about one percent of the global population. Gluten exposure can cause damage to the small intestine, and currently, the only accepted treatment is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.
Despite the diet, some patients continue to struggle with symptoms, impaired quality of life, and intestinal damage. Teva views these trial results as a significant step toward developing a drug treatment that addresses the biological mechanism of the disease.
Dr. Eric Hughes, Executive Vice President, Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, stated:
"Until today, a gluten-free diet was the only option for people living with celiac disease, but even patients who strictly adhered to it sometimes continued to suffer from symptoms, intestinal damage, and a significant impact on their daily lives."
According to him, "these results highlight the potential to move beyond managing gluten exposure and treat the disease at its biological source."
In May 2025, the FDA granted TEV '408 a fast-track designation for the treatment of celiac disease. Teva notes that the results in the two diseases for which the drug is in development strengthen its potential to become a product with medical applications for a number of conditions with common inflammatory and immune mechanisms.
