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Magdeburg, Germany, Nov 8, 2007 - (Hugin via ABN Newswire) - Press Release
November 8, 2007
KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Study With Cannabinoid Receptor-Agonist
Preparation of Phase II Study in Stroke Patients
Magdeburg, November 8, 2007 - KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals AG, a biotechnology company focused on the development and marketing of drugs against autoimmune diseases and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), today announced the start of a new clinical study. The placebo-controlled, double blind, dose escalating study in healthy individuals will evaluate the tolerability and pharmacokinetics of KN38-7271, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, to treat stroke patients.
In most cases, stroke is caused by a blood clot occluding a vessel in the brain (ischemic stroke); however, stroke can also be caused by internal bleeding following the rupture of a brain artery (hemorrhagic stroke). It usually leads to complex and often life-threatening damage of the brain requiring considerable medical and social care of surviving patients. 40% of stroke patients die within the first year after the occurrence of a stroke. As a result, stroke is the third leading cause of death in industrialized countries. In Germany, about 165,000 patients suffer a stroke each year (source: Interdisciplinary Centre for Public Health, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg).
KN38-7271 is already being tested in an international Phase II study in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) since the end of 2006. The cannabinoid receptor agonist activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain, strengthening important natural protection mechanisms and preventing overacting inflammatory reactions.
Dr Frank Striggow, CEO of KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals, said: The start of an additional clinical study underlines our ambitions in neurodegenerative brain disorders and acute brain injuries. It is our goal to offer urgently needed, novel therapeutic options to doctors and patients as soon as possible." About KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals AG KeyNeurotek, a privately held biotechnology company, was founded in 2000 within the Magdeburg, Germany region, one of the leading centers of neuroscience in Europe. KeyNeurotek pursues a number of drug candidates in various preclinical and clinical stages. The most advanced compound, KN38-7271, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, is in a Phase IIa trial in comatose patients with traumatic brain injury. At present, there is no effective therapy for these patients.
The company has unique functional and tissue-based high throughput screening platforms for compatible ex vivo and in vivo studies (TELOMICSTM). Based on its know-how, KeyNeurotek develops innovative therapies for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, Alzheimer's disease and urinary incontinence/overactive bladder.
The company has built a strong network with renowned local and international partners, including, among others, the Leibniz Association, the Max Planck Society and Fraunhofer Society, evotec OAI, Schwarz Pharma AG, Monheim, and Bayer Healthcare AG, Leverkusen. KeyNeurotek has been awarded the Hugo-Junckers Innovation Award of the State of Sachsen-Anhalt in 2002 and 2004 and the Innovation Price of the German Industry in 2006.
