BRISTOL, Tenn. and CRANBURY, N.J., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Palatin Technologies, Inc. announced today that a scientific presentation will be given at the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) annual meeting on Friday, March 10, 2006 at 7 A.M. at the Marriott Lisbon Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.
The session, titled “Advances in the Development of Pharmacologic Treatment for Female Sexual Dysfunction”, will be moderated by Dr. Cindy Meston, PhD, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas - Austin. Presentations will be made by James Pfaus, PhD, Professor in the Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, and Michael A. Perelman, PhD, Co- Director of the Human Sexuality Program, Payne Whitney Clinic of New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, with a joint appointment at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
This presentation to healthcare professionals dedicated to the effective treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) will cover emerging therapies for the treatment of FSD and the previously disclosed data from a clinical trial evaluating the effects of bremelanotide on pre-menopausal women diagnosed with FSD. Additionally, Michael A. Perelman will present a poster at the meeting, detailing the same information presented at the scientific session, titled “The Potential Role of Bremelanotide (PT-141) as a Pharmacologic Intervention for FSD.”
About Bremelanotide (formerly PT-141)
Bremelanotide is the first compound in a new drug class called melanocortin receptor agonists under development to treat sexual dysfunction. This new chemical entity is being evaluated in phase II clinical trials studying the efficacy and safety profile of varying doses of this novel compound in men experiencing erectile dysfunction (“ED”) and women experiencing female sexual dysfunction (“FSD”). The mechanism of action of bremelanotide may offer important benefits over currently available products for the treatment of ED because it acts on the pathway that controls sexual function without acting directly on the vascular system. Clinical data indicates that bremelanotide may be effective in treating a broad range of patients suffering from ED. The nasal formulation of bremelanotide currently under development is as convenient as oral treatments, is more patient- friendly than invasive treatments for ED, such as injections and trans- urethral pellets, and appears to result in a rapid onset of action.
Although the current ED market is primarily served by PDE-5 inhibitors, which target the vascular system, a substantial unmet medical need for alternative sexual dysfunction therapies exists. Many patients are contraindicated for, or non-responsive to, PDE-5 inhibitors. In addition, current literature indicates that about one half of all patients who receive an initial prescription for a PDE-5 inhibitor do not renew the prescription due chiefly to adverse side effects, drug interaction issues, and/or the lack of an acceptable level of responsiveness.
About FSD
FSD consists of four components, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, FSAD, dyspareunia or painful intercourse and anorgasmia. To establish a diagnosis of FSD, these components must be associated with personal distress, as determined by the affected woman. A February 10, 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), titled, “Sexual Dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and Predictors,” states that some form of FSD appears to be prevalent in approximately 43 percent of the female population.
About ED
ED is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The condition is correlated with increasing age, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and smoking. In addition, certain prescription drugs and psychogenic issues may contribute to ED. It is estimated that some degree of ED affects one half of all men over the age of 40 and that 150 million men worldwide suffer from ED.
About Palatin Technologies, Inc.
Palatin Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the development of melanocortin-based therapeutics. The Company has a pipeline of product candidates in development. The Company’s internal research and development capabilities, anchored by its proprietary MIDAS(TM) technology, are fueling product development. Palatin’s strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations with industry leaders in order to maximize their commercial potential. To date, the Company has formed partnerships with Tyco Healthcare Mallinckrodt and King Pharmaceuticals. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin Technologies’ website at http://www.palatin.com.
About King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
King, headquartered in Bristol, Tennessee, is a vertically integrated branded pharmaceutical company. King, an S&P 500 Index company, seeks to capitalize on opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry through the development, including through in-licensing arrangements and acquisitions, of novel branded prescription pharmaceutical products in attractive markets and the strategic acquisition of branded products that can benefit from focused promotion and marketing and product life-cycle management.
Palatin Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: For Palatin Technologies: Stephen T. Wills, CPA, MST, EVP-Operations/Chief Financial Officer, +1-609-495-2200 or info@palatin.com;For King Pharmaceuticals: James E. Green (for all King inquiries),Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, +1-423-989-8125; For PalatinInstitutional Investors and Media: Carney Duntsch, Burns McClellan,+1-212-213-0006 or cduntsch@burnsmc.com
Web site: http://www.palatin.com//
