Apr 7 2011
Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) today announced that research on the PPAR-gamma agonists it is developing in its Addiction franchise has been published in the April 1, 2011 issue of the Journal of Biological Psychiatry. The article was selected as a focus of a press release issued on April 5, 2011 by Biological Psychiatry, one of the most commonly cited journals in the field of psychiatric neuroscience.
The article, authored by Omeros' collaborators Drs. Stopponi and Ciccocioppo, their colleagues and Omeros scientists, demonstrates that activation of the PPAR-gamma receptor in animal models of alcohol addiction reduces alcohol drinking and stress-induced relapse of alcohol-seeking behavior. In addition, the PPAR-gamma agonist prevented expression of alcohol withdrawal signs.
Omeros exclusively owns patent applications claiming the use of any PPAR-gamma agonists, alone or in combination with other agents, for the treatment or prevention of any addiction or compulsive behavior. Omeros' PPAR-gamma program has demonstrated strong animal data and preliminary human data in opioid, nicotine and alcohol addiction. Importantly, the PPAR-gamma agonists have not shown the detrimental side effects of drugs currently marketed to treat addiction. Phase 2 clinical trials funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse are currently in progress evaluating the effects of PPAR-gamma agonists in the treatment of prescription and illicit opioid addiction. Omeros plans to conduct additional studies evaluating PPAR-gamma agonists for the treatment of opioid, nicotine and alcohol addiction.
SOURCE Omeros Corporation