PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alteon Inc. announced today that the generic name “alagebrium chloride” has been approved by the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council for Alteon’s lead A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker compound, known as ALT-711.
The USAN Council [tri-sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)], aims for global standardization and unification of drug nomenclature and related rules to ensure that drug information is communicated accurately and unambiguously, working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Committee, and various national nomenclature groups.
About Alagebrium Chloride
Alagebrium chloride (ALT-711) is the first in a new class of compounds that have been shown in vitro and in vivo to reverse Advanced Glycation End- product (A.G.E.) crosslinking, thereby restoring more normal function to tissues, vessels and organs that have lost flexibility. Alteon believes that alagebrium’s mechanism of action is new and novel, and is unrelated to that of any pharmaceutical agent either currently prescribed or in clinical development. Importantly, alagebrium does not disrupt the natural enzymatic glycosylation sites or peptide bonds that are responsible for maintaining the normal integrity of the collagen chain. Thus, normal structure and function is preserved while abnormal crosslinking is reduced.
In addition to restoring elasticity of stiffened tissues by breaking pathological crosslinks, in preclinical studies alagebrium consistently demonstrates the ability to reverse the upregulation of genes for proteins and growth factors known to be associated with the pathological hypertrophy (enlargement) of tissues. Hypertrophy of the aorta and the left ventricle is correlated with the development of heart failure. These results indicate that restoration of normal tissue dynamics through breaking A.G.E. crosslinks may restore normal levels of gene expression.
Alagebrium has demonstrated safety and efficacy in several Phase 2 trials and is actively being developed for systolic hypertension and heart failure. Additional Phase 2 trials in systolic hypertension and heart failure are expected to be initiated within the first half of 2004.
About Alteon
Alteon is developing several new classes of drugs that reverse or slow down diseases of aging and complications of diabetes. These compounds have an impact on a fundamental pathological process caused by protein-glucose complexes called Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.s). The formation and crosslinking of A.G.E.s lead to a loss of flexibility and function in body tissues, organs and vessels and have been shown to be a causative factor in many age-related diseases and diabetic complications. Alteon has created a library of novel classes of compounds targeting the A.G.E. Pathway. These include A.G.E. Crosslink Breakers, A.G.E. Formation Inhibitors and Glucose Lowering Agents. Alteon’s lead compound alagebrium, the only A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker in advanced human testing, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in several Phase 2 trials and is actively being developed for systolic hypertension and heart failure. For more information on Alteon, visit the company’s website at http://www.alteon.com/.
Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those relating to technology and product development (including the possibility that early clinical trial results may not be predictive of results that will be obtained in large-scale testing or that any clinical trials will not demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to obtain requisite approvals or will not result in marketable products), regulatory approval processes, intellectual property rights and litigation, competitive products, ability to obtain financing, and other risks identified in Alteon’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained in this press release is accurate as of the date indicated. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. Alteon undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Alteon Inc.
CONTACT: Susan M. Pietropaolo, Director, Corporate Communications &Investor Relations for Alteon Inc., +1-201-934-5000, fax - +1-201-234-8880
Web site: http://www.alteon.com/