Sirona Biochem Says Improved Chemical Process for Its Sugar Blocker Molecules Will Speed Up Pre-Clinical Development

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwire - December 08, 2009) -

Highlighted Links

Sirona Biochem Corp.

MacReport Media Publishing

Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM), an emerging biotech company focused on diabetes and obesity, announced today that its unique Sodium-Glucose Transport Inhibitor molecule has reached a critical developmental milestone.

Sirona Biochem CEO, Dr. Howard Verrico, said, "Our unique Sodium-Glucose Transporter Inhibitor ('SGLT') molecule synthetic process is now suitable to support our lead optimization campaign and facilitate scale-ups required for future downstream activities.

"That is not to say the production process has been totally optimized or the drug itself has been proven clinically efficacious, but, there is now a process that will enable Sirona to fast track lead optimization and pre-clinical development of its SGLT platform.

"We have a target of being at what the industry calls the 'proof of concept' stage in the first quarter of 2010 where we can also demonstrate robustness of the molecule through in vivo testing. SGLT inhibitors have been notorious for breaking down too quickly in the body before they can adequately limit the re-uptake of sugars in the urine stream for Type 2 Diabetes," continued Dr. Verrico.

"You combine supportable data on in vivo effectiveness with a robust method of production; we will then have added significant value to the opportunity with Big Pharma which is our target for a deal on the molecule."

Sirona Biochem owns the worldwide product rights to a growing library of unique SGLT inhibitors to treat diabetes and obesity. SGLT inhibitors help block the reuptake of excess sugars from urine, which can then reduce high blood sugar towards normal levels. The management of sugar metabolism is considered a primary medical challenge associated with treating diabetes and obesity and that is why SGLT inhibitors are attracting the attention.

Sirona Biochem has a strategic partnership with TFChem, a drug discovery company based in Rouen, France. TFChem licenses its technology of fluorinated carbohydrate mimics: GlycoMim®, and products in development, to biotech companies. This strategic partnership was completed by a detailed research and licence agreement in September, 2008.

IMPACT OF DIABETES AND OBESITY

23.6 million Americans, or 7.8% of the population, have diabetes. (February 2009 DACG.ORG) The diabetes drug market reached US$18 billion in 2005, and is expected to increase to $21-25 billion in 2011.

Furthermore, in recent years, obesity has become a major health problem for many post-industrial societies, so much so that in 2004, the United States Health and Human Services declared obesity to be a disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) projected that globally, in 2005, 1.6 billion adults were overweight with at least 400 million adults obese. By 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and 700 million will be obese. Obesity poses a major health risk because it greatly increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and cancer.

Sirona Biochem's website is at: www.sironabiochem.com where we feature the most recent information about the company and its activities. Alternatively, investors are able to e-mail all questions and correspondence to info@sironabiochem.com where they can also request to be added to the investor e-mail list to receive all future news releases and updates.

SIRONA BIOCHEM

Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM) is an emerging biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel drug compounds. The current focus is on treatments for Type II diabetes and obesity. Sirona has entered into a license agreement with TFChem S.A.R.L., a drug discovery company based in Rouen, France. TFChem licenses its technology of fluorinated carbohydrate mimics: GlycoMim®, and products in development, to biotech companies. The license agreement with TFChem provides for research and development of new compounds known as SGLT Inhibitors. SGLT inhibitors are a new and exciting class of compounds that have great promise and potential to treat both diabetes and obesity.

Mark Senner
President and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.