FROM: PR Newswire
NOTE: Source of tthis information is the company - NeoTherapeuticss
PR Newswire
November 16, 2001, Friday 9:16 AM Eastern Time
SECTION: FINANCIAL NEWS
HEADLINE: NeoTherapeutics' Neotrofin(TM) Stimulates Proliferation Of
Neural Stem
Cells in Adult Mice;
Data on proliferation of neural stem cells after a single dose of
Neotrofin
presented at 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience
DATELINE: IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 16
NeoTherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEOT) presented data at the 31st
Annual
Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego showing the effects
of
Neotrofin(TM), the Company's lead neurology compound, on the
proliferation and
differentiation of neural stem cells. Data on proliferation confirmed
previously
reported preliminary studies and demonstrated that Neotrofin causes an
increase
in the number of neural stem cells in adult mice 24 hours after a single
treatment. The Company also presented data from two studies on the fate
of these
new stem cells. One of these studies demonstrated a statistically
significant
increase in new neurons.
"A single dose of Neotrofin reproducibly results in a statistically
significant increase in the number of stem cells in the brains of adult
mice,"
said Eve Taylor, Ph.D., Director of Biomolecular Pharmacology at
NeoTherapeutics. "This effect has now been observed in three separate
studies
using state-of-the-art quantitative digital microscopy techniques.
"We have now completed the analysis of two studies on differentiation
of
these new neural stem cells," added Dr. Taylor. "In the first study, we
observed
statistically significant increases in the number of new neurons six
weeks after
a single treatment with Neotrofin. Data from the second study did not
show this
effect. Overall, we are extremely encouraged by this data. Our top
priority is
to conduct additional studies to clarify the effects of Neotrofin on the
fate of
these new stem cells."
"This presentation highlights critical data supporting one of
Neotrofin's
mechanisms of action, and builds on the study presented earlier this week
showing that Neotrofin causes the release of neurotrophic factors,"
stated Alvin
J. Glasky, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of
NeoTherapeutics.
"These neurotrophic factors have been shown by independent scientists to
influence neural stem cells. We look forward to reporting the results of
additional stem cell studies that are currently being analyzed."
Neotrofin is an orally available drug that has been safely
administered to
over 1,300 patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and
spinal
cord injury. Studies have shown that Neotrofin crosses the blood-brain
barrier
and stimulates the production of neurotrophic factors and the enzyme heme
oxygenase 1. Neurotrophic factors have been shown to facilitate nerve
function,
protect nerve cells from damage due to toxins, injury and stress, to
stimulate
sprouting of neurons in response to injury and to stimulate the
proliferation
and differentiation of brain stem cells. Heme oxygenase 1 has been shown
to
protect against oxidative stress, a key factor in neurodegeneration.
Neotrofin is presently being tested in a pivotal clinical study of
521
patients with Alzheimer's disease, and in phase 2 studies in Parkinson's
disease
and spinal cord injury. Phase 2 clinical studies in the prevention and
treatment
of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy are scheduled to begin before the end
of this
year.
NeoTherapeutics seeks to create value for stockholders through the
discovery
and development of central nervous system drugs, in-licensing and
commercialization of anti-cancer drugs, and discovery of new drug targets
through genomics research. The Company has two drugs addressing major
medical
needs in pivotal/phase 3 stage of development: Neotrofin? for Alzheimer's
disease and satraplatin for prostate cancer. Additional neurology and
anti-
cancer drugs are in phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials and the Company
has a
rich pipeline of pre-clinical drug onald Trahan Associates (RTA) Inc.
SOURCE NeoTherapeutics, Inc.
CONTACT: media, Jon Siegal of Ronald Trahan Associates (RTA) Inc.,
+1-508-647-9782, ext. 15; or investors, John McManus of NeoTherapeutics,
Inc.,
+1-949-788-6700, ext. 247
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
