WOODRIDGE, Ill., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. , today announced that it was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to investigate the ability of its small molecule therapeutic, ALS-886, to reduce brain swelling leading to tissue damage following stroke in preclinical testing. The grant was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and is being conducted in collaboration with scientists at Duke University.
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"This SBIR grant helps validate the promise of our early-stage pipeline products," said Michael T. Flavin, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "SBIR grant funding is a non-dilutive financing mechanism which has enabled Advanced Life Sciences to develop early-stage drug candidates that form the basis of scientific collaboration opportunities, without diverting capital resources from our late-stage antibiotic program."
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the number one cause of adult disability. It is estimated that this clinical condition results in a cost of $30-40 billion in the U.S. alone. While a large number of therapeutic agents have been investigated for the treatment of stroke, only one drug is currently approved for marketing in the United States.
The award, entitled "Vascular Permeability Normalization in Ischemic Stroke", has been directed toward examining the effect of ALS-886 in the reduction of vascular permeability increases seen following an ischemic stroke in preclinical models. While still early in its development, this potential treatment may help to prevent or limit the brain tissue damage associated with stroke.
About Advanced Life Sciences
Advanced Life Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, cancer and inflammation. The Company's lead candidate, cethromycin, is a novel ketolide antibiotic in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.
Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those relating to technology and product development, market acceptance, government regulation and regulatory approval processes, intellectual property rights and litigation, dependence on collaborative relationships, ability to obtain financing, competitive products, industry trends and other risks identified in Advanced Life Sciences' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Advanced Life Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050428/CGTH039LOGOPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comAdvanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc.CONTACT: Investor Relations, Edward P. Flavin of Advanced Life SciencesHoldings, Inc., +1-630-739-6744 Ex 211
Web site: http://www.advancedlifesciences.com/
