Avicena files composition of matter patent application for treatment of Parkinson's disease

Apr 27 2007

Avicena Group, Inc.  has announced that it has filed a composition of matter patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cover potential treatments for Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

This composition of matter patent broadly covers pharmaceutical formulations based on creatine derivatives alone or in combination with an anti-inflammatory compound for the treatment of Parkinson's. The Company believes that this patent will further strengthen its intellectual property portfolio in Parkinson's, building upon existing use patents previously issued to Avicena with claims in neurology (US Patents 6,196,115 B1 and 6,706,764 B2). Specifically, this patent will provide additional IP protection for its current Parkinson's disease drug candidate, PD-02, and future generation drug candidates formulated to treat Parkinson's.

"This patent application is indicative of our efforts to create shareholder value by building our IP estate to provide additional protection for our cellular energy franchise and our Parkinson's disease drug candidates", stated Belinda Tsao-Nivaggioli, Ph.D., CEO of Avicena. "As previously announced, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiated a Phase III trial evaluating our PD-02 compound to verify its ability to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. As we enter later stage clinical trials and approach potential marketing approvals and commercialization, the strength of our IP becomes increasingly important."

PD-02 is a patented, proprietary therapeutic that has demonstrated the potential to improve neurological function. In clinical studies, PD-02 demonstrated significant improvements in UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale). Preclinical studies of PD-02 have showed significant neuroprotective properties including protection of the dopaminergic cells that are affected in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative brain disorder that occurs when the neurons within the brain that are responsible for producing the chemical dopamine die. Primary symptoms of the disease include involuntary shaking of the arms or legs (tremors), difficulty with balance, slowness of movement, and stiffness.

According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, roughly 1.5 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, making it the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. There presently is no known cure for Parkinson's disease.