EPIX Pharmaceuticals to Present Alzheimer's Disease Data at the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics Annual Meeting
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 4, 2009 - EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform today announced that it is scheduled to present Phase 2a data on PRX-03140 during the Pipeline session of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics (ASENT) 11th Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia.
On March 6, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (EST) Tom Megerian, M.D., Ph.D., executive director, clinical research at EPIX is scheduled to give an oral presentation entitled, “Results of a Phase 2A Study of a Novel 5HT4 Agonist for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.” EPIX previously announced the results of a Phase 2a clinical trial of PRX-03140 as a single agent and in combination with Aricept® in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Megerian's presentation will focus on these previously reported data.
PRX-03140 is being developed under EPIX's worldwide multi-target strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to discover, develop and market novel medicines targeting four G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) for the treatment of a variety of diseases. PRX-03140 was discovered utilizing EPIX's proprietary computer based GPCR platform and optimized with integrated computational medicinal chemistry.
In May 2008, EPIX announced the initiation of its Phase 2b program in Alzheimer's disease. The Phase 2b proof-of-concept program consists of two clinical trials - a six-month trial evaluating PRX-03140 in combination with donepezil and a three-month trial studying PRX-03140 as monotherapy. The combination trial began in May 2008 and the monotherapy trial was initiated in June 2008. For additional information about these two ongoing clinical trials, please visit www.trialforAD.com or ClinicalTrials.gov; for the latter use the search terms EPIX and/or PRX-03140.
PRX-03140 – Summary of Clinical Data
EPIX believes that its drug candidate PRX-03140 may have the potential to improve cognition and memory and to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, with fewer and less-severe side effects than drugs currently on the market to treat this condition. It is selective for the 5-HT4 receptor in the brain and is believed to stimulate both acetylcholine production and release - which enables symptomatic improvement in Alzheimer's patients - and the alpha-secretase pathway - which may slow Alzheimer's disease progression. Phase 2a results indicated that patients receiving daily oral 150 mg doses of PRX-03140 as monotherapy for two weeks achieved a mean 3.6 point improvement on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) versus a 0.9 point worsening in patients on placebo (p= 0.021).
In three Phase 1 trials and the Phase 2a trial, involving more than 180 patients and healthy subjects, PRX-03140 has been well-tolerated. In a 14-day Phase 1b clinical trial, treatment with PRX-03140 resulted in changes in brain wave activity in Alzheimer's patients that are consistent with those seen in clinical trials with currently approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease. In preclinical studies, PRX-03140 was shown to improve cognitive function through increasing levels of acetylcholine, and led to increased levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regions of the brain known to be important for memory.
About EPIX
EPIX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform. The company has a pipeline of internally-discovered drug candidates currently in clinical development to treat diseases of the central nervous system and lung conditions. EPIX also has collaborations with leading organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics.
This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding the potential of PRX-03140 and the content and timing of corporate presentations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks that we face, see the disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Contact: EPIX
Kim C. Drapkin, 781-761-7602
Chief Financial Officer
or
Pure Communications
Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-596-7473
