Israel-Medical-Healthcare

[genisi]

TARO
Since I'm a share holder i consider this good news.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000179998&fid=942

Encouraging results for Taro’s 1st ethical treatment
T2000 is being developed for non-Parkinson’s involuntary tremors.
Roy Meltzer Gali Weinreb 5 Feb 07 19:25
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Pink Sheets: TAROF.PK) is getting closer to becoming a manufacturer of ethical drugs. The company, which is at a crossroads regarding its future, has had a paper "Treatment of essential tremor with the barbiturate T2000" posted to the website of Movement Disorders, the journal of the Movement Disorders Society, prior to its appearance in the print version of that publication.

Taro began Phase II clinical trials of T2000 just over six months ago, also announced that US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Taro for the use of the company's proprietary, non-sedating barbiturate compounds in the treatment of essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. The patent will expire in June 2025.

The present trials are for two dosages of the drug. The group of 12 patients that received the higher 400 milligram dosage showed significant improvement compared with the control group that received a placebo. The group of 12 patients that received the lower 300 milligram dosage showed no significant improvement compared with the control group that received a placebo. Although the results are positive, the sample was small. “The study shows the need for more trials to assess T2000 as a treatment option for this disorder,” said Taro chairman Barry Levitt. The trial is scheduled to end in August 2007, when the results of a larger trial will be obtained.

Taro originally developed T2000 as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but before targeting this large, complex and competitive market, the company decided to target the drug on a similar, less common disorder, where competition is less, and where regulatory procedures might be quicker. Non-Parkinson’s involuntary tremors affect six million people a year in the US.

There are currently four treatments for this disorder, but the best clinical results show a 50% decline in the tremors’ strength. To successfully market T2000, Taro will have to demonstrate in Phase III clinical trials that the drug is not only more effective than a placebo, but also more effective than competing treatments.

Taro added that T2000 is the only treatment without a sedative, which gives the company an additional marketing edge, if and when the product is approved for use.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 5, 2007