WITA
Proteomics Completes Epilepsy Drug Mechanism Study with elbion AG
- Proposal for new mechanism of drug
action for new lead compound -
Teltow/Berlin, October 16,
2002 - WITA Proteomics AG and elbion AG announced today that their
investigation of a novel anti-epileptic drug's mechanism of action through
WITA's high-resolution proteomics platform has just been successfully
completed. Determining the mechanism of action of elbion's proprietary and
novel drug on the protein level will give insight into the key proteins
involved in their compounds therapeutic effect, permit further
optimization, and is expected to result in the availability of novel drugs
for patients suffering from epilepsy. Epilepsy and seizures, which the WHO
estimates affects at least 50 million people world-wide, are inadequately
treated in up to 30% of patients receiving anti-epileptic medication due
to poor response to drug therapy and undesired side-effects.
Under the terms of the
agreement, WITA Proteomics applied its High Performance ProteomicsTM
technology for the identification of drug related protein changes,
identified the proteins associated with these changes, including membrane
and low abundance proteins, and constructed a mechanism of action based on
the most variant identified proteins. Proteins were up to 3 fold up or
down regulated as a result of treatment. elbion will utilize this
information to gain insight into the mechanism of action of its lead
structures and to modify these compounds. The financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.
Dr Andreas Köpke, CEO of
WITA Proteomics, commented "because our High Performance ProteomicsTM
platform resolves up to 10,000 proteins at a time, detects proteins across
a broach pH range (pH 2-12), and detects membrane proteins, it is ideally
suited for the sensitive identification of proteins that are involved in
drug treatment effects. This approach in combination with reverse
pharmacology techniques can be expected to provide potent drugs with less
side-effects."
elbion AG discovers and
develops drugs for the therapies of inflammatory and central nervous
system diseases and covers all development stages from early discovery to
clinical phase II studies. It is located in Radebeul, Germany. For company
information, visit elbion at www.elbion.com.
WITA Proteomics AG is a
high-resolution proteomics company involved in the high-throughput
identification of disease related proteins, with the purpose of
identifying proteins of interest for the diagnostic, drug development and
predictive toxicology markets through its High Performance ProteomicsTM
technology. WITA Proteomics is certified and operates in accordance with
ISO 9001 quality system requirements.
For more information please
contact:
WITA Proteomics AG
Dr. Andreas Köpke, CEO
Dr. Pascal Bolon, Director of Sales & Marketing
Tel: +49 3328 3508 61
Fax: +49 3328 3508 60
www.wita-proteomics.com
