DanioLabs announces postiive clinical results for two lead products

 

Cambridge, UK 5 December 2006 - DanioLabs, the neurology and ophthalmology drug reprofiling company, today announced encouraging data from its first clinical studies, designed to demonstrate proof-of-concept that DL06001 could reduce sialorrhoea (drooling) in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Clinical trials of a further compound, DL6003, demonstrated the product had a pronounced ability to reduce sebum production for the treatment of acne.

Positive results showed that DL06001 significantly reduced saliva secretion and that DL06003 was able to reduce sebum production in the volunteers by around 70%. DL06001 is a novel combination of two established drugs with long histories of safe use, while DL6003 is a single agent from this combination.

DL06001 is a potential treatment for sialorrhoea by reducing the amount of saliva produced. Drooling and excessive saliva production is a major issue for sufferers of Parkinson’s Disease, and for the wider disease markets of Motor Neurone Disease, Cerebral Palsy and patients with oesophageal obstruction, such as oesophageal cancer.

DL06003 has the potential to become a significant treatment for the 60-70% of patients with Parkinson’s Disease who experience excess sebum production, as well as for people with acne or seborrhoeic dermatitis. Sebum production is one of the major causes of acne, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and accounts for the majority of dermatologist visits. There are currently a limited number of treatments that reduce sebum excretion effectively and current treatments have notable side effects.

Tony Sedgwick, CEO of DanioLabs said: “We are excited about these positive results and at the speed we have been able to generate clinical results. Given these products have already been proven safe in man in other indications, the development time and attrition rate for these compounds has been greatly reduced.

With both these programmes, we are hoping to help improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s Disease. As well as suffering excessive saliva production and sweating, approximately seventy per cent of patients also suffer from excessively greasy skin. The fragility of these patients necessitates the use of a well-tolerated treatment for the reduction of sebum production. Given that there is a high demand for a similar treatment for people with acne, the potential market for this market is even greater, as this is a condition that affects millions worldwide.”

The Company now plans to undertake further clinical studies for both DL06001 and DL06003, with the clinical study details to be announced at a later date. Clinical trials on the compound DL06002 for the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) in patients with Parkinson’s Disease are ongoing.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

DanioLabs

Dr Tony Sedgwick, CEO Tel: +44(0)1223 706460
Dr Paul Goldsmith, CSO Tel: +44(0)1223 706460

Northbank Communications
Tel: +44(0)20 3008 7550
Gemma Bradley / Justine Lamond

About DanioLabs

DanioLabs is a biotechnology company focused on developing products in the fields of neurology and ophthalmology. The Company has a reprofiling strategy; identifying and enhancing known drug compounds for new, innovative therapeutic applications, with the aim of out-licensing products for further development and commercialisation. DanioLabs’ approach to reprofiling is based upon identifying opportunities through clinical observation, as well as systematic screening of drug libraries using its proprietary high-throughput zebrafish disease models.

The Company’s internal drug development programmes progress alongside a revenue-generating service business. DanioLabs has a portfolio of clinical and preclinical programmes, with its drug discovery programmes supported by collaborations with the CIMR (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research) and Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, at the University of Cambridge.

Further details on the Company can be found at www.daniolabs.com