Wednesday, 22 March 2006: Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) today announced significant preclinical results for the oral administration of NNZ-2566, opening up new market opportunities for the drug’s application to a number of chronic neurological disorders.
The new formulation and subsequent oral administration of NNZ-2566 gave significant neuroprotection at various doses with almost total protection (95% reduction in injury size) being obtained with the highest dose.
Non-oral administration of the NNZ-2566 class of drugs has already shown efficacy in experimental Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease animal models and the intravenous administration of NNZ-2566 is currently being trialled for traumatic brain injury with the US Army. The result of the new oral administration of NNZ-2566 builds on the data from previous studies employing acute intravenous use of the drug, where key information on NNZ-2566’s biological mode of action, drug character, toxic profile and pharmacodynamics has already been obtained.
In light of these exciting results, Neuren will further expand the research and development program for the oral administration of NNZ-2566 to include a number of chronic neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease as well as the long-term preventative treatment in patients at risk of TIAs (transient ischaemic attacks) and others.
David Clarke, CEO of Neuren, said, “These results are exciting because they represent the proof that oral efficacy with NNZ-2566 can be consistently obtained in animal models. This opens the door for the development of an oral NNZ-2566 medication to treat chronic neurological conditions. As the world population ages these represent large and growing markets, which currently lack effective treatment.”
“This path also enables us to maximise the investment we have made in NNZ-2566 to date. We have already laid a significant amount of foundation into obtaining knowledge and validation of how this drug works. The new opportunities optimise this investment.”
About Neuren Pharmaceuticals
Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) is a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics in the fields of neurotherapy and metabolic disorders. The Neuren portfolio consists of six product families, targeting markets with large unmet needs and limited competition. Neuren has several commercial and development partnerships, including with Pfizer, the US Army’s Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals.
For more information, please visit Neuren’s website at www.neurenpharma.com
