Cambridge, UK, 13 January 2006, Minster Pharmaceuticals, the AIM-listed (AIM: MPM) drug development company, today announced a collaboration with University of Copenhagen and Danish Headache Centre at Glostrup Hospital, to evaluate the use of its development drug, tonabersat, in migraine with aura. In this condition, which affects a significant section of the population suffering from migraine, the migraine headache is preceded by disturbances of vision, often accompanied by significant nausea and other unpleasant symptoms.
Agreement has been reached to conduct a Phase II clinical study to evaluate tonabersat in the prophylaxis (prevention) of this type of migraine with its troublesome symptoms for which no specific treatments are currently available. This study is expected to be part of a broader collaboration between Minster, the University of Copenhagen and other centres investigating the mechanisms underlying migraine.
Professor Jes Olesen, one of Europe’s leading neurologists and past president of the International Headache Society, who will be leading the study, stated, “We are learning more all the time about the underlying causes of migraine and the aura which frequently precedes the headache phase of an attack. Tonabersat, with its novel mechanism of action as a gap junction blocker, has the potential to offer an effective and well-tolerated preventative for sufferers of this frequently troublesome condition. For this reason we will be providing a significant contribution to the financing of this programme from research grants.”
Paul Sharpe, Chairman and CEO Minster Pharmaceuticals, added, “This collaboration with the prestigious Danish Headache Centre at University of Copenhagen, Glostrup Hospital represents a significant enhancement of our development programme with tonabersat. The study complements our on-going Phase II prophylaxis study in the general migraine population and is expected to provide major insights into the use of tonabersat in the preventitive treatment of this common and under-treated condition. It represents a further significant step towards the establishment of tonabersat as a preventative treatment for migraine.”
--ENDS-- For further information, please contact: Minster Pharmaceuticals plc Dr Paul Sharpe, CEO +44 (0)1799 506623
Northbank Communications +44 (0)207 886 8150 Rowan Minnion (media enquiries)
About Minster Pharmaceuticals Minster Pharmaceuticals is an AIM–listed (AIM:MPM) drug development company specialising in compounds for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions. The Company was established as BioPartners Ltd in 2001 when it acquired from GlaxoSmithKline the worldwide development rights for two compounds, tonabersat and sabcomeline, which have benefited from GSK’s substantial investment. Tonabersat, a novel compound for the treatment and prevention of migraine, completed a Phase II programme in over 1000 patients in the late 1990s, and is being developed further in this indication by Minster Pharmaceuticals. Sabcomeline has completed clinical trials in over 2,500 patients, and has been identified as a potential treatment for chronic schizophrenia. It is now in Phase II trials. Development work is carried out by service providers such as contract research organisations, and at the appropriate time Minster plans to license its pharmaceutical products to pharmaceutical companies in order to complete development, register and market the drugs. As well as the development of sabcomeline and tonabersat, the company is looking to take on the development of further compounds by way of acquisition or in-licensing. For more information, please go to www.minsterpharma.com. Best regards Rowan Minnion Account Manager ---------------------------------------------- Direct line: +44 (0)20 7886 8154 Main tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150 Fax: +44 (0)20 7886 8151 www.northbankcommunications.com Northbank Communications Ltd The Media Village, 131-151 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 5BB, UK
