Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA)

[DewDiligence]

The Laquinimod data released today was inconsequential (IMO) insofar as they compared the drug to itself; FierceBiotech basically agrees:

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/teva-touts-fresh-phiii-evidence-oral-ms-drugs-potential/2013-03-21

Teva and its multiple sclerosis partner Active Biotech rolled out some new top-line Phase III data on their troubled program for the oral MS drug laquinimod--still Teva's best shot at protecting the $4 billion franchise built up for Copaxone. But the results from the three-year study are unlikely to change anyone's mind about its long-term commercial prospects.

The Phase III study was used to compare the efficacy of laquinimod in delaying disease progression when provided in an early start effort over 36 months versus a late-start group treated for 24 months. Not surprisingly, the early-start group experienced the better results--11.8% risk of confirmed disability progression versus 16.7%.

…Doubts about laquinimod grew after the drug failed to achieve a primary endpoint in reducing the rate of relapses in patients in an earlier study[#msg-65742416]. But rather than bury the program…Teva doubled down and came back with a new Phase III study designed to demonstrate that a higher dose of the drug delays the progressive loss of muscle control [#msg-78319404] Investigators began dosing a few days ago.

Some other opinions: #msg-72758992, #msg-72756347, #msg-85373769.