SAN FRANCISCO, May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Antipodean Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced it has initiated Phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy of its lead compound MitoQ (mitoquinone) in patients with Parkinson's Disease in New Zealand and Australia. The trial will be led by Barry Snow, MD, FRACP, FRCP, Head of the Department of Neurology, Auckland Hospital and involve 10 consultant neurologists at the country's main regional hospitals who will assess and advise potential participants. Parkinsons New Zealand, a non-profit patient information and support group will also be involved to help patients.
"This is potentially groundbreaking technology," said Michael Murphy, PhD, MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK. "The compound being tested, MitoQ, has already been internationally recognized as the first to effectively target mitochondrial dysfunction, a key mechanism underlying Parkinson's Disease."
Criteria for inclusion in the trial will focus on people who meet the diagnosis of Parkinson's, but have yet to receive any treatment to relieve symptoms.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease that affects four million people worldwide. It is marked by tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity. Current treatments for Parkinson's Disease improve symptoms for a time, but they do not slow disease progression.
Antipodean's compound, MitoQ, is based on a novel technology, targeted lipophilic cations, that transport and concentrate antioxidants into the mitochondria where they accumulate up to 1000 fold. There they have been shown to significantly interrupt oxidative damage, which is implicated as a catalyst in Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. MitoQ was invented by Professor Robin Smith at the University of Otago in New Zealand and Dr Michael Murphy a former colleague at Otago who is now in the UK.
"Initiating this Phase 2 efficacy study is a major milestone for our company," said Ken Taylor, CEO, Antipodean. "We believe MitoQ is a promising compound and the study start is testament to quality research and a very efficient drug development program."
Information on the Phase 2 trial is available at www.parkinsons.org.nz.
About Antipodean:
Antipodean is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing treatments for Parkinson's Disease, Friedreich ataxia, and other disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. The company's lead product, MitoQ, has started Phase 2 trials in Parkinson's disease and will soon be studied in Friedreich ataxia. No curative or disease modifying therapies exist for either disease. Antipodean recently opened its corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California and maintains an operational base in Auckland, New Zealand. The company is continuing to work closely with researchers and investigators in New Zealand and Australia as well as in the Bay Area and elsewhere in the US to develop MitoQ and other therapeutics based on mitochondrial targeting. Antipodean investors include: Delphi Ventures, 5AM Ventures, GBS Venture Partners and Versant Ventures.
Further information is available from the website: www.antipodeanpharma.com.
Antipodean Pharmaceuticals, Inc.CONTACT: Jennifer Larson, +1-415-409-2729, orjlarson@weisscommpartners.com, for Antipodean
Web site: http://www.antipodeanpharma.com//
