Probiodrug Announces Validity of European Patent Covering Use of DP4 inhibitors for the Treatment of Anxiety
Probiodrug to Present an Update on QC Inhibition as Potential New Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease at the 9th international conference AD/PD 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic, March 11-15.
Probiodrug to Present an Update on QC Inhibition as Potential New Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease at the International Conference on Alzheimer Disease – ICAD – 2009 in Vienna, Austria, July 11-16
Halle/Saale, May 15, 2009 — Probiodrug AG (Probiodrug), a developer of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that no opposition has been filed against its European patent EP1 328 271 B1 covering “Treatment of Neurological and Neuropsychological Disorders”. The patent is now valid and can be enforced in the designated European states.
EP1 328 271 B1 covers the use of inhibitors of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DP4 or CD26) for the treatment of anxiety. Probiodrug has discovered that DP4 inactivates the brain neuropeptide Y (NPY) which is known to have, among others, anxiolytic effects. Moreover, administration of DP4 inhibitors is able to maintain or potentiate the neurological and neuropsychological effects of NPY. Furthermore, Probiodrug has shown that potentiation of NPY Y1 receptor-mediated effects can be used for the treatment of anxiety.
“We are very pleased about this patent as DP4 inhibition is at the core of a new treatment paradigm of Anxiety”, said Hans-Ulrich Demuth, CSO and co-founder of Probiodrug. “This is the first patent covering DP4 inhibitors that have the potential to be an acute therapy for Anxiety without unpleasant side effects known from current treatments.”
Background
European patents granted by the European Patent Office may be opposed for a variety of reasons (e.g. prior art) within 9 months following the publication of the granting of the patent. If no opposition is filed within this period, the patent is valid in the designated states.
About Probiodrug AG
Probiodrug is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative small molecule drugs for the treatment of neuronal, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. In these areas, Probiodrug is focusing on innovative targets with the prospect of first and best in class therapeutics. The Company has a dominant position in the area of glutaminyl cyclase (QC) inhibition, an enzyme central for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this field, Probiodrug is pioneering a completely novel therapeutic approach. In addition, the Company is pursuing further novel approaches in the area of inflammatory diseases.
Probiodrug’s core expertise is based on its long-standing, unique experience with the structure and function elucidation of enzymes which play a central role in the maturation of hormones. The Company has pioneered the field of DP4-inhibition for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Compounds and technology patents of its DP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) program in diabetes were licensed to various pharmaceutical companies. In 2004, all metabolic assets were sold to (OSI) Prosidion. However, Probiodrug kept all rights to DP4 outside the field of diabetes. The first drug based on Probiodrug`s technologies reached the market in late 2006. Proceeds of these transactions have been reinvested to fund the novel approach for the treatment of AD.
The Company was founded in 1997 by Dr Konrad Glund and Prof Dr Hans-Ulrich Demuth and has raised a total of $52 million. In 2007, it acquired Ingenium Pharmaceuticals AG. Probiodrug is located in Halle (Saale), Germany, and operates a subsidiary in Martinsried/Munich, Germany. For more information, please visit www.probiodrug.de.
Contact:
Dr Konrad Glund, CEO
Probiodrug AG
Weinbergweg 22
D-06120 Halle/ Saale
Germany
Tel.: +49 345 55599-00
Fax: +49 345 55599-01
Mail: konrad.glund@probiodrug.de
Dr Ludger Weß
akampion
Saseler Loge 6b
22393 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49 40 88 16 59 64
Fax: +49 40 88 16 59 65
Mail: ludger@akampion.com