New Formulation Eliminates Need for Reconstitution

JERUSALEM, Israel I September 17, 2013 I Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TREANDA (bendamustine HCI) Injection, a new formulation of the currently approved TREANDA (bendamustine HCI) for Injection. TREANDA is indicated for use in patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen, and in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The efficacy of TREANDA in CLL relative to first line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established.

This new liquid formulation removes the step of reconstituting lyophilized powder with sterile water prior to adding the medicine to the dilutent and administering to a patient.

“By eliminating the need for reconstitution, a step is removed making dose preparation fast and convenient for healthcare professionals,” said Jim Koeller, M.S., Professor, University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy.

Teva was assigned a Priority Review designation for the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for the new liquid formulation of TREANDA, which was submitted to the FDA on March 8, 2013. The FDA designates Priority Review for drug applications that would be significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions when compared to standard applications.

“Teva is committed to continuously improving our medicines to deliver greater value to all stakeholders,” said Bill Campbell, Vice President and General Manager, Teva Oncology. “With this new liquid formulation of TREANDA, we are building on the legacy of TREANDA, which has played a valuable role since 2008 in the treatment of patients with CLL or indolent B-cell NHL that has progressed.”

Indications

TREANDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Efficacy relative to first-line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established.

TREANDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.

Important Safety Information

   Allergic Reactions: Patients with a known allergic response to bendamustine should not take TREANDA.

   Serious Side Effects: TREANDA may cause serious side effects, including low blood cell counts, infections, unexpected responses to TREANDA when placed in your blood, sudden and severe allergic responses, kidney failure due to fast breakdown of cancer cells, other cancers, and leaking of TREANDA out of your vein and into your surrounding skin. Some of these side effects, such as low blood counts, infections, and severe allergic skin responses (when TREANDA was given with allopurinol and other medications known to cause severe allergic skin responses), have caused death. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects.

   Changes in Therapy: Some serious side effects may require changes in therapy, such as lowering the amount of TREANDA given, stopping the use of TREANDA, or waiting longer than expected between doses of TREANDA.

   Pregnancy: Women should avoid becoming pregnant while using TREANDA because it may cause fetal harm if you take TREANDA while pregnant.

   Most Common Side Effects: The most common non-blood-related side effects associated with TREANDA (occurring in ≥15% of patients) are nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, constipation, loss of appetite, cough, headache, weight loss, difficulty breathing, rash, and mouth irritation. The most common blood-related side effects associated with TREANDA (frequency ≥15%) are decreased number of three different types of white blood cells (infection-fighting cells), low red blood cells (oxygen-carrying cells), and low platelets (blood-clotting cells).

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About TREANDA (bendamustine HCI) Injection

TREANDA was approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in March 2008. Efficacy relative to first line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established. TREANDA received its second approval in October 2008 for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.

TREANDA has a unique chemical structure that is synthesized to combine an alkylating group and a purine-like benzimidazole component. Though the exact mechanism of action of TREANDA remains unknown, bendamustine is active against both quiescent and dividing cells. Preclinical studies suggest that TREANDA may lead to cell death by a process known as apoptosis (programmed cell death) as well as by an alternate cell death pathway which disrupts normal cell division known as mitotic catastrophe (a non-apoptotic pathway).

About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of four main types of leukemia. CLL begins with a change to a single white blood cell, or lymphocyte, of the bone marrow. Over time, the CLL cells multiply, replacing normal lymphocytes in the marrow and lymph nodes. As the amount of lymphocytes increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white and red blood cells as well as platelets, which may result in infection, anemia and bleeding.

About Indolent Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a disease in which cancer cells form in the lymphatic tissue in the body. Because lymph tissue is found throughout the body, NHL can begin almost anywhere in the body and spread to almost any tissue or organ. There are approximately 60 different types of NHL, which are formed from either B-cells or T-cells. The majority of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (80 to 90 percent) are formed by B-cells. Types of NHL are generally divided into two categories–indolent and aggressive.

Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHL) are slow-growing lymphomas. The median survival of patients with indolent lymphoma is approximately 10 years. Indolent lymphomas are often responsive to therapy but usually relapse.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) is a leading global pharmaceutical company, committed to increasing access to high-quality healthcare by developing, producing and marketing affordable generic drugs as well as innovative and specialty pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Headquartered in Israel, Teva is the world’s leading generic drug maker, with a global product portfolio of more than 1,000 molecules and a direct presence in about 60 countries. Teva’s branded businesses focus on CNS, oncology, pain, respiratory and women’s health therapeutic areas as well as biologics. Teva currently employs approximately 46,000 people around the world and reached $20.3 billion in net revenues in 2012.

SOURCE: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries