DNAPRINT GENOMICS SELECTS PT-502 LEAD RESEARCH COMPOUND
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DRUG FOR TREATING DEPRESSION
SARASOTA, Fla., July 17, 2006 -- DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. (OTCBB: DNAG) today announced it has confirmed positive results in an animal model for anti-depressant activity for its PT-502 lead compound being developed with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
“The results of the assay are encouraging and have enabled us to select PT-502 as the lead candidate for a new anti-depressant therapy,” stated Dr. Mark Froimowitz, Research Professor of Chemistry at Boston College. “The test results clearly show that PT-502 is active in a widely used animal assay for anti-depressant activity. This approach uses the dopamine system as a means of treating depression and is different from traditional serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac™.”
In October 2005, DNAPrint Genomics announced that it has licensed a series of Ritalin™-like compounds developed by Dr. Froimowitz. Ritalin™ is a well-known drug used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These compounds have the potential to be enhanced pharmaceuticals for the clinical treatment of depression, drug addiction and ADHD.
Dr. Froimowitz noted that anywhere from 30% or more of the patients treated with available antidepressants either do not respond to treatment or have adverse side effects. “PT-502 is our new compound designed to selectively block the reuptake of dopamine with a slow onset, and a longer duration of action. This pharmacokinetic profile indicates that PT-502 should have little or no abuse potential. This offers a new model for the treatment of depression that affects nearly 20 million people a year in the U.S. alone. Finding a treatment that may augment or enhance the use of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors could help millions of people suffering
with depression.”
“We are very encouraged by these preliminary results from Dr. Froimowitz’s laboratory and we will be advancing the PT-502 compound as quickly as possible,” said Hector J. Gomez, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of DNAPrint and the Company’s DNAPrint Pharmaceuticals division. “Neurological compounds such as those in our PT-500 series are exciting additions to our growing product and diagnostic development pipeline.”
Richard Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer of DNAPrint Genomics, noted that the compound series that the Company licensed from Dr. Froimowitz are focused on drug addiction, depression and attention deficit disorder. “We believe, as do many researchers and clinicians in the psychiatric field, that strong links may exist for certain individuals between drug addiction, attention deficit and depression in clinical evaluations of those individuals and it is important to understand the neurological inter-relationships between the three neurological disorders,” he stated. “We will not only be using our Systems Biology to understand the relationships between these three distinct disorders but we will utilize our DNA Ancestry Informative Marker technology to help us sort out the patient population groups that are the most responsive to treatment using this new model of treatment for depression. We believe this will give us a significant advantage over existing drug therapies, especially for the refractive patient groups that may not respond to the ‘one pill fits all’ design of currently approved drugs.”
About DNAPrint Genomics, Inc.
DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. (www.dnaprint.com) is a developer of genomics-based products and services in two primary markets: biomedical and forensics. DNAPrint Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, develops diagnostic tests and theranostic products (drug/test combinations) using the Company's proprietary ancestry-informed genetic marker studies combined with proprietary computational modeling technology. Computational Biology and Pharmacogenomics services are also offered externally to biopharmaceutical companies. The Company's first theranostic product is PT-401, a "Super EPO" (erythropoietin) dimer protein drug for treatment of anemia in renal dialysis patients (with end stage renal disease). Preclinical and clinical development of all the Company's drug candidates will benefit from simulated pre-trials to design actual trials better and are targeted to patients with genetic profiles indicating their propensity to have the best clinical responses. DNAPrint is proud of its continued dedication to developing and supplying new technological advances in law enforcement and consumer ancestry heritage interests. Please refer to www.dnaprint.com for information on law enforcement and consumer applications which include DNAWitness (TM), RETINOME(TM), AncestryByDNA(TM) and EuroDNA(TM). DNAWitness-Y and DNAWitness-Mito are two tests offered by the Company. The results from these tests may be used as identification tools when a DNA sample is deteriorated or compromised or other DNA testing fails to yield acceptable results.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected, including, but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product
development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's products,
dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual
property of others, and patent protection and litigation. DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking, except as may be required by applicable law or
regulation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
