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Approximately 90% of AD patients develop neuropsychiatric symptoms
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Approximately 60% of AD patients develop agitation/aggression
TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Transition Therapeutics Inc. ("Transition" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: TTHI, TSX: TTH) today
announced its licensing partner, Elan Corporation, plc ("Elan") has
enrolled the first patient in a Phase 2 study of ELND005 (Study AG201)
for the treatment of agitation/aggression in patients with moderate to
severe Alzheimer's disease (AD).
The objectives of Study AG201 are to evaluate the efficacy, safety and
tolerability of ELND005 over 12 weeks of treatment in patients with
moderate to severe AD, who are experiencing at least moderate levels of
agitation/aggression. The study is expected to enroll approximately
400 patients at multiple sites in the US, Canada and potentially other
selected regions. In the Phase 2 AD Study (AD201), ELND005 appeared to
decrease the emergence and severity of specific neuropsychiatric
symptoms, an effect which seemed to correlate with drug exposure for
some symptoms. ELND005 also led to a sustained reduction of brain
Myo-inositol levels that are thought to play a role in phospho-inositol
signaling pathways and synaptic activity. More information on Study
ELND005-AG201 will be available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.
About Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Alzheimer's Disease
It is currently estimated that approximately 5.4 million Americans and
approximately 7.2 million Europeans have AD and these numbers are
expected to rise to 16 million by 2050. AD is a progressive brain
disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to
learn, reason, make judgements, communicate and carry out daily
activities. Approximately 90% of AD patients develop neuropsychiatric
symptoms, and up to 60% develop agitation/aggression over the course of
their disease. Agitation/aggression are among the most disruptive NPS
in AD and are associated with increased morbidity and caregiver burden.
About ELND005
ELND005 is an orally bioavailable small molecule that is being
investigated by Transition's licensing partner, Elan, for multiple
neuropsychiatric indications on the basis of its proposed dual
mechanism of action, which includes -amyloid anti-aggregation and
regulation of brain myo-inositol levels. An extensive clinical program
of Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies have been completed with ELND005 to
support clinical development, including the recently published Phase 2
study ELND005-AD201 in AD. ELND005 is also being studied as a
maintenance treatment of Bipolar Disease in an ongoing study (Study
ELND005-BPD201).
About Transition
Transition is a biopharmaceutical company, developing novel therapeutics
for disease indications with large markets. Transition's lead product
is ELND005 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and bipolar
disorder. Transition also has an emerging pipeline of innovative
preclinical and clinical drug candidates. The other drugs in the
pipeline that the Company is developing are for anti-inflammatory and
metabolic indications. Transition's shares are listed on the NASDAQ
under the symbol "TTHI" and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
"TTH". For additional information about the Company, please visit www.transitiontherapeutics.com.
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uncertainties include factors beyond Transition's control and the risk
factors and other cautionary statements discussed in Transition's
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SOURCE Transition Therapeutics Inc.