SWITCH Biotech AG First Clinical Results in the Treatment of Psoriasis

Neuried (November 14, 2003) - SWITCH Biotech, a biotechnology company that is specialized in the treatment of skin diseases, announced first breakthroughs in the clinical development of its innovative medicaments for the treatment of psoriasis. The first clinical trial of the active compound SWT01.100 provided valuable data that support the innovative principle of function.

SWITCH Biotech has discovered a novel mode of action, namely ion channel modulation, which enables the treatment of two of the most important aspects of psoriasis. Initial laboratory in vitro tests had already shown that some of SWITCH Biotech's tested compounds succeeded in inhibiting T-cell activation (relevant for the immune reaction) and keratinocyte proliferation (squamous skin appearance typical for psoriasis). Following these discoveries SWITCH Biotech decided to undertake further trials with the compound named SWT01.100. This compound modulates the ion channel activity in body cells. Ion channels are increasingly recognized as pharmaceutically relevant target molecules in the development of innovative drugs.

In order to verify the biological principle of SWT01.100's ion channel modulating effect topical applications of the compound were investigated on patients suffering from psoriasis. In this double-blind pilot trial that included 38 patients, SWT01.100 was compared with placebo in terms of clinical and biological parameters.

Psoriasis occurs for example when the upper layer skin cells in the epidermis (keratinocytes) divide too fast, thereby causing a hyper thickening of the skin. During the clinical trial topical application of SWT01.100 caused a reduction in thickness of the affected epidermal tissue by about 20%. Skin areas that were treated with the placebo compound even displayed slight thickening of the epidermis. The therapeutically relevant PASI Score (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) was reduced by 50% in patients treated with SWT01.100. However, the design of the study did not provide any significant results as to the reduction of the PASI score in comparison with the placebo reference test.

Dr. Erwin Böhm, Chief Development Officer of SWITCH Biotech, commented on the data: "The results of the study support the assumption that ion channel modulation represents a highly promising approach for the treatment of psoriasis. The study justifies further extended research into this mode of action."

(349 words/2,387 characters)

About SWITCH Biotech:

SWITCH Biotech is a leader in dermatological research and development. It has identified compounds to be used in the treatment of dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and cutaneous ulcers. 

The third round of financing was completed in April 2002, bringing the total investment of this round to 23.8 million Euro. In the previous two rounds of financing the company received 10.6 million Euro. 

Further information available on www.switch-biotech.com 

Downloads: Text (rtf-file)in "Presse Pool" (www.biocommunications.net)

Further information can also be obtained from:

SWITCH Biotech AG

Christine Neumüller 
Floriansbogen 2-4 
D-82061 Neuried/Germany

Tel.: +49-89-74946-291 
eMail: christine.neumueller@switch-biotech.com 

© BIOCOMMUNICATIONS.net GmbH, Brunnenstr. 128, D-13355 Berlin, Germany - Reprint free of charge, please supply copy