RALEIGH, N.C., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Pharmaceutical Corporation announced Wednesday the completion of a Phase II study that assessed the safety and efficacy of leuprolide acetate in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease in men.
The 48-week study, known as VP-AD-104, was a double-blind, placebo- controlled, multi-center study. It enrolled 119 men ages 65 and older with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
"The completion of this Phase II study in men is a major clinical achievement for Voyager," said Patrick Smith, president and CEO of the company. "Furthermore, nearly 90 percent of eligible subjects elected to enroll in the extension study." Voyager will complete data analyses during the next several weeks.
Voyager completed VP-AD-103, a similar Phase II study in women, in 2005. Previously reported results from ALADDIN 103 showed stabilization of cognitive decline over 48 weeks in a subgroup of patients taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, the current standard of care, and leuprolide acetate.
Voyager will be presenting additional Phase II trial data during the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, presented by the Alzheimer's Association. During the conference, Voyager will also report on the progress of its two active Phase III trials for Alzheimer's disease. The conference will be held in Madrid, Spain from July 15 - 20, 2006.
For more information on Voyager's ongoing Phase III clinical trial or on the scientific premise upon which this treatment is founded, please go to http://www.voyagerpharma.com.
About Voyager Pharmaceutical Corporation
Voyager Pharmaceutical Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs for diseases associated with aging and development. Voyager's scientific approach is based on the observation that many diseases of aging may be caused by changes in human reproductive hormone levels that are characteristic of the aging process. Voyager's most advanced product candidate is VP4896, a proprietary, small, biodegradable implant that is comprised of leuprolide acetate and a polymer. VP4896 decreases the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) released by the pituitary gland which, Voyager believes, may decrease or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The active ingredient in VP4896, leuprolide acetate, has been used safely for over 20 years as a treatment for prostate cancer. Voyager's Phase III trial program for VP4896 is one of only three Phase III studies that investigate the effects of new AD therapies on the rate of cognitive decline in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Voyager was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. For more information go to http://www.voyagerpharma.com.
Contact Information:
Patrick S. Smith, President and CEO
(919) 846-4880
Voyager Pharmaceutical CorporationCONTACT: Patrick S. Smith, President and CEO, +1-919-846-4880
Web site: http://www.voyagerpharma.com/
