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I have had several requests for more info re Gilford Pharm. Here is a press release regarding their work. regards, tom BALTIMORE (Dow Jones)--Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. (GLFD) said a novel class of orally active small molecule compounds it discovered, neuroimmunophilins, demonstrates a potent regenerative effect in rodent models of Parkinson's disease. In a press release, the company said previously, protein-based neuronal growth factors, such as NGF and GDNF, have been shown to increase neuronal cell growth in animal experiments of Parkinson's disease. However, Guilford said proteins and peptides are very difficult to administer for neurodegenerative disorders, because they are not orally active, and do not get into the brain. Guilford said it would present data to support its findings today at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting in Washington. The animal models of Parkinson's Disease studied by Guilford involve administration of one of two neurotoxins, either MPTP or 6-hydroxydopamine, to rats or mice. The neurotoxins selectively destroy the parts of the brain that deteriorate in Parkinson's disease, and are used as animal models to study the effects of potential therapeutic drugs for Parkinson's disease. The results of the first series of experiments showed that simultaneous oral administration of GPI-1046 with MPTP produced about an 85% neuroprotective effect. The second series of experiments involved administering Guilford's neuroimmunophilin compound after the degeneration in the brain had occurred, and produced an about 45% regeneration of dopaminergic neurons. (END) DOW JONES NEWS 11-18-96 3:27 PM Copyright 1996 Dow Jones & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.