http://pharmalicensing.com/news/headlines/1000937896_3ba919a8a188f
Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced that Amgen has elected to terminate
its agreement with Guilford and return all rights to the neuroimmunophilin
ligand technology it licensed from Guilford in 1997.
Neuroimmunophilin ligands are a novel class of drugs developed by Guilford that
may have the ability to cause nerve growth and repair. In preclinical studies
conducted in research laboratories, neuroimmunophilin ligands have demonstrated
promising results suggesting they may have utility in a broad range of clinical
indications, including Parkinson's disease, age-related cognitive impairment,
and spinal cord injury.
"We've enjoyed a very productive relationship with Amgen," said Dr.
Craig R. Smith, President and CEO. "Over the course of our collaboration, we've
learned a great deal about our neuroimmunophilin ligands and are committed to
the further development and commercialization of this technology."
In July 2001, Guilford reported preliminary results of the first
clinical evaluation of a neuroimmunophilin ligand, 'NIL-A' in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease. The clinical trial, which was conducted by Amgen, was a
Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the safety,
pharmacokinetics and efficacy of NIL-A in patients with mild to moderate
Parkinson's disease. The results from this study suggested that NIL-A was well
tolerated at doses up to 1,000 mg taken orally four times a day for 6 months,
but did not produce a substantial reversal of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's
disease.
"The Phase II clinical trial of NIL-A was the first clinical
evaluation of our neuroimmunophilin ligand technology, and was an important
exploratory study," continued Dr. Smith. "Although NIL-A did not meet its
primary endpoint and produce a significant reversal in the motor symptoms of
Parkinson's disease, we were encouraged that NIL-A was well tolerated. Our
evaluation of the secondary endpoints in the trial suggested there may have been
some benefit for certain of the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
However, these results are preliminary and will require additional study to
confirm their significance. Furthermore, we've obtained encouraging results with
neuroimmunophilin ligands in a variety of additional preclinical disease models,
suggesting this technology may have application in a number of other clinical
indications."
Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a pharmaceutical company engaged
in the development of biopolymer-based therapeutics for surgeons and novel
products for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.
Note:
This should be good for PD. Guilford is committed to developing this promising
therapy. The securities markets liked this too. GLFD stock was up 10% today.
Perry Cohen
www.parkinsonscare.org
www.parkinsonscare.org
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