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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new drug for celiac disease could change the game. Teva's experimental antibody TEV-408 significantly reduced intestinal damage and inflammation in a mid-stage trial, with patients also reporting fewer digestive symptoms. Currently, there are no approved treatments for celiac disease — patients can only manage it through a strict gluten-free diet.
A new drug for celiac disease could change the game. Teva Pharmaceutical's experimental antibody TEV-408 met the primary endpoint of a mid-stage trial, significantly reducing gluten-induced intestinal damage and inflammation compared to placebo. The drug works by blocking IL-15, a protein central to the immune response triggered by gluten in people with celiac disease — an autoimmune condition affecting roughly 1% of the global population.
In the trial, 50 patients on a gluten-free diet received either a single subcutaneous injection of TEV-408 or a placebo, then consumed gluten daily for six weeks. After eight weeks, TEV-408 users showed meaningfully less small intestinal damage and reported fewer digestive symptoms, with no new safety concerns flagged.
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Why it matters: There are currently zero FDA-approved treatments for celiac disease — patients must rely entirely on avoiding gluten, which isn't always foolproof. If TEV-408 continues to show results, it could become the first-ever approved therapy for this condition, offering real relief to millions.
