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Prana Provides Clinical Trials Update
Alzheimer’s and Huntington disease trials on track
Melbourne – 22 August, 2012; Prana Biotechnology (NASDAQ:PRAN; ASX:PBT)
today reported on its progress in its Phase II clinical trials with its lead development
asset PBT2. PBT2 has a unique therapeutic action that can benefit people suffering
neurodegenerative disease because of its specialized ability to prevent the toxic
relationship between disease proteins and biological metals in the brain.
Prana’s world leading work in neurodegenerative diseases is capturing significant
international recognition, particularly at a time when other potential treatments are failing.
"There is mounting evidence that compounds that can restore metal homeostasis in the
neuron can stop and even reverse cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative
diseases. We think Prana's PBT2 could be such a compound," said New York based
MLV & Co. Equity Research, Senior Biotech Analyst George Zavoico, Ph.D. The full
report is available at www.pranabio.com.
Alzheimer’s disease Trial Update – the “IMAGINE” trial
In an earlier 12 week trial PBT2 both significantly changed amyloid levels in spinal fluid
and improved the cognition of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
1,2
The IMAGINE trial,
with 12 months of treatment, aims to establish PBT2 as a safe and effective treatment
for Alzheimer’s disease. The following provides an update on the trial:
100% of sites approved and open for recruitment;
40% of patients in dosing;
Recruitment On Track to report 2H13;
3 patients have reached 24 weeks of dosing – doubling the previous longest
exposure to PBT2;
No serious adverse events reported; and
First Data Safety Monitoring Board meeting in September 2012, reporting on
safety and tolerability.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial is enrolling 40 patients with
prodromal or mild Alzheimer’s disease in five sites in Melbourne, Australia. Brain
Imaging is being used to measure PBT2’s effect on amyloid deposits in the brain (using
PiB-PET scanning) and effects on increasing brain activity (FDG PET). Cognition effects
are being measured by the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB).
“The results of the IMAGINE trial will be closely watched by the Alzheimer’s community,
given the recent failure of several late-stage therapeutic candidates. We believe that
PBT2’s mechanism of action explains the clinical benefits that the drug has already
shown, and we anticipate positive results from this trial,” said Chief Executive Officer, Mr
Geoffrey Kempler. The trial has received funding from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF).
Howard Fillit, MD, the ADDF’s Executive Director commented, “PBT2 stands out as one
of the few orally available agents with clinical trial evidence of cognitive benefit for
Alzheimer’s patients. Success in this trial will demonstrate target engagement by PBT2
in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and accelerate the clinical development
of PBT2 to patients.”
The protocol for the IMAGINE trial is available by clicking here.
Huntington Disease Trial Update – the “Reach2HD” trial
The Reach2HD trial is a 6 month trial in 100 patients with early to mid-stage Huntington
disease. An IND was opened to conduct the trial across sites in the USA and Australia.
The following provides an update on the trial:
70% of sites approved and open for recruitment;
14% patients in dosing;
Recruitment On Track to report 2H13;
No serious adverse events reported; and
First Data Safety Monitoring Board meeting in October 2012, reporting on safety
and tolerability.
Professor Ira Shoulson, Professor of Neurology, Pharmacology and Human Science at
Georgetown University (Washington DC) and the Chair of the Executive Committee of
the Huntington Study Group said: “PBT2 attracted our attention as an experimental drug
with the potential to bring real benefit to Huntington disease patients who suffer from a
range of motor, behavioural and cognitive symptoms. The favourable signals from the
PBT2 trial in Alzheimer’s disease are particularly promising.”
Only one drug is marketed for Huntington disease and that is only for the relief of the
severe motor or chorea symptoms. There are no approved treatments for the significant
cognitive and behavioural components of the disease, which typically manifest before
motor problems.
“The trial objective is to demonstrate safety, motor and behavioural benefits and the
same cognitive benefits for Huntington’s patients that it has already demonstrated in
Alzheimer’s patients treated with PBT2,” said Mr Kempler.
The protocol and site updates for the Reach2HD trial can be accessed by clicking here.
References
1.
Lannfelt et al. Lancet Neurology (2008) vol. 7, pp. 779-86;
2.
Lannfelt et al. Erratum: Lancet Neurology (2009) vol. 8, pp. 981.
About Prana Biotechnology Limited
Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related
neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the
Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.
Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The
Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching
hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana’s technology.
For further information please visit the Company’s web site at www.pranabio.com.About Huntington disease
Huntington disease is a complex and severely debilitating genetic, neurodegenerative disease,
for which there is no cure. The disease often affects young adults and, whilst associated with
severe physical movement symptoms, progressively impacts the mind and emotions as well. The
disease causes incapacitation and death about 15-25 years after onset. The disease affects
30,000 people in the US and about 70,000 worldwide. There are no drugs in development that
have established clinical evidence for treating cognitive decline.
About the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is the only non-profit organization whose
sole mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure
Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and cognitive aging. Since 1998, the ADDF has granted
more than $50 million to fund over 325 Alzheimer’s drug discovery programs in academic centers
and biotechnology companies in 18 countries. For more information about the Foundation, please
visit www.AlzDiscovery.org.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company
has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects,"
"intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and
other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such
statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the
Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and
outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited
to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks
and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the
difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and
marketing of the Company’s drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of
the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects
or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited
to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent
protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to,
the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings
the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on
Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K. Such statements are based on management’s current
expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks
and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release. Accordingly, you should not rely
on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.
Contacts:
Australia
Prana Biotechnology
[phone]
US
Leslie Wolf-Creutzfeldt
T: 646-284-9472
E: [e-mail]
Media:
Ivette Almeida
T: 646-284-9455
E: [e-mail]

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