Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SWX: SANN), a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on neuromuscular diseases, announces today the publication of study results in the European Heart Journal that support the potential efficacy of Santhera's lead compound SNT-MC17 (INN: idebenone) in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [1]. The authors concluded that early-initiated and long-term treatment of mdx mice, a well-established animal model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is cardioprotective and improves exercise performance. Santhera's recent Phase II proof-of-concept trial with SNT-MC17/idebenone in a population of young Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients showed positive efficacy on cardiac and respiratory functions. Meanwhile, the Company is in scientific discussions with clinical experts and health authorities from the European Union and the United States of America in preparation for a Phase III development program, the initiation of which is planned for the first half of 2009. Lead investigator, Prof. Gunnar Buyse (University Leuven, Belgium), will present data from the preclinical and clinical studies with SNT-MC17/idebenone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the upcoming 13th Congress of the World Muscle Society (September 29 to October 2 in Newcastle, UK).
