|
Promising new treatment for Alzheimers disease licensed
Intranasal treatment licensed for clinical trial
March 4, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - A Canadian bio-technology company, Sanomune Inc., has licensed a new treatment method that helps drugs to reach the brain unlike any other treatment for neurological diseases. The treatment method, developed by HealthPartners Research Foundation, is a new therapeutic technology offering hope to the 5.2 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases.
The intranasal method was developed by William H. Frey II, Ph.D., senior director of HealthPartners Research Foundation's Alzheimer's Research Center, and his colleagues. It allows medication to bypass the protective blood-brain barrier and enter the brain directly. Dr. Frey developed a way to bypass the barrier for neurological conditions using intranasal delivery of Deferoximine or SAN-121. San -121 has previously been shown when given in twice daily injections to reduce cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients by 50 percent. However, systemic delivery has unwanted and negative side effects including blood pressure drops. With intranasal delivery, side effects can be significantly reduced.
"With our non-invasive delivery method, the drug bypasses the blood-brain barrier and is rapidly delivered to the brain while significantly reducing unwanted side effects," said Dr. Frey. "Because it is able to reach key areas involved in both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, we are very optimistic about its potential as a treatment for these disorders."
San-121 is licensed through Sanomune Inc., a private biotech start-up focused on neurological and autoimmune diseases. One in 10 people over the age of 65 and half of those over 85 have Alzheimer's disease in the United States. "Intranasal delivery of SAN-121 and other therapeutics can hopefully improve the treatment of this disease," Frey said.
Product licensing with Sanomune Inc. was the last step before proceeding with clinical trials which could begin in the next year.
About HealthPartners Research Foundation
HealthPartners family of care includes HealthPartners Research Foundation (www.hprf.org). Conducting about 250 research projects each year, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge through research to improve the health of our members and the community. Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of health care companies serve more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide and is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community.
About Sanomune
Sanomune is a private biotech start-up focused on neurological and autoimmune disorders. Sanomune's lead product, SAN-61, is targeting the treatment of Alzheimers disease and other neurological conditions with a naturally-occurring, orally available protein. In September 2008, Sanomune was named one of Canada's Top 10 Life Science Companies in an annual competition organized by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. www.sanomune.com
Contact: 952-883-7410
|
|
