IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 8
/PRNewswire/ -- NeoTherapeutics,
Inc. (Nasdaq: NEOT, NEOTW)
announced today that the Company
has been issued a new U.S. patent
on gene regulation technology
involved in treating
neurodegenerative diseases.
U.S. Patent No. 5,801,184 describes
how purine derivatives, a
class of drug compounds which
includes NeoTherapeutics' lead
compound NEOTROFIN(TM) (AIT-082,
leteprinim potassium),
can be used to selectively control
"turning on or off of genes" for
the protein molecules involved in
nerve regeneration. This patent
represents a significant step
forward in the treatment of
neurodegenerative diseases utilizing
a convenient oral medication
to replace or augment the presence
of neurotrophic factors in the
brain and spinal cord.
"This patent represents an important
milestone in the ongoing
development of our proprietary
technology platform," commented
Dr. Alvin Glasky, President, CEO and
Chief Scientific Officer of
NeoTherapeutics and inventor of the
patent. "AIT-082 has
remarkable actions. It regulates the
genetic expression of several
neurotrophic factors in various
areas of the brain and spinal cord.
In each area, the factors it induces
are those naturally needed by
the nerve cells in that region.
AIT-082 is the first drug in human
clinical trials which acts by
regulating the production of the
naturally-occurring neurotrophic
growth factors," he added. Dr.
Glasky further explained that the
patent deals with processes
already being applied in clinical
trials in humans. "I am delighted
with the rate of progress of this
technology from the laboratory to
the human clinical setting. It is
particularly rewarding that the
advanced technology described in
this patent is already being
utilized in patients suffering from
Alzheimer's disease in a phase 2
clinical safety and efficacy trial."
Neurotrophic factors are essential
for the growth, maturation and
survival of nerve cells. When
present in appropriate
concentrations, these factors also
protect nerve cells against
damage in stroke, trauma, and many
neurodegenerative disorders
including Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases. These factors are
not produced by the nervous system
in sufficient quantities to be
fully effective in those conditions,
and, because neurotrophic
factors are proteins, they cannot be
orally administered. These
problems are circumvented by
NeoTherapeutics' new patent,
which describes a novel method for
treating neurological
disorders, particularly
neurodegenerative diseases.
NeoTherapeutics has developed an
orally-active purine
derivative, NEOTROFIN(TM) (AIT-082),
which controls the
genetic expression of neurotrophic
factors in the nervous system
to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Data on the actions of NEOTROFIN(TM)
(AIT-082), both in
the laboratory and in clinical
trials, will be presented at the 1998
meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience in Los Angeles on
November 10 and 11, 1998.
Previously, the United States Patent
and Trademark Office
granted NeoTherapeutics two patents
which are part of the
Company's technology platform. The
Company has an additional
six patent applications pending in
the U.S. and over 50 issued or
pending worldwide patent
applications to further expand its
technology base.
NeoTherapeutics' research program is
focused on designing and
developing small molecules capable
of promoting nerve
regeneration and repair for a range
of neurological diseases and
conditions such as Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases, stroke
and spinal cord injury. Additional
compounds in
NeoTherapeutics' product pipeline
address other health issues
such as migraine and depression. For
additional Company
information, visit the
NeoTherapeutics web site at
http://www.neotherapeutics.com.
This press release contains
forward-looking statements regarding
future events and the future
performance of NeoTherapeutics that
involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to
differ materially. These risks
include, but are not limited to, the
early stage of product development,
the need for additional
funding, the initiation and
completion of clinical trials and
dependence on third parties for
clinical testing, manufacturing and
marketing. These risks are described
in further detail in the
Company's reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission.