Teva wins FDA approval for monthly schizophrenia injection Weltruza

(Corrects sourcing in bullet 3, updates share reaction in ​bullet point 5)

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Teva said on Friday it had received approval from ‌the US Food and Drug Administration for Weltruza, a once-monthly ⁠injection for adults ​with schizophrenia.

Weltruza is the ⁠second US-approved product from Israel-based Teva's ‌partnership with French ‌biotech company Medincell after Uzedy, a long-acting ⁠injectable form of ⁠antipsychotic drug risperidone, which the FDA approved in 2023.

• Teva, which leads the development and commercialisation of Weltruza, said it expected to launch the drug in the ‌US in the coming ​weeks

• The product uses Medincell's long-acting injectable technology, which is designed to release medicines over extended periods

• Analysts see potential for long-acting antipsychotic formulations to help address treatment-adherence challenges in chronic psychiatric illnesses, as ​long-acting olanzapine may in schizophrenia

• Medincell may ‌be eligible for ‌up ⁠to $112 million in additional development and commercial milestone payments under its agreement with Teva, along with royalties on sales

• Shares of ‌Teva closed 2% ​higher in Tel Aviv; ‌Medincell closed 16.9% ⁠higher in Paris

(Reporting ​by Lucie Barbier in Gdansk, editing by Milla ​Nissi-Prussak)

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