Probiodrug Obtains Additional US Patent for the Inhibition of the Enzyme Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC) to Treat CNS Diseases

Halle/Saale, June 16, 2010 — Probiodrug AG (Probiodrug), a biotech company developing novel concepts and products for the treatment of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease, today announced that Probiodrug has been granted US patent no. 7,732,162 covering additional subject matters for the company’s QC inhibitors by the United States Patent Office. The patent comprises the use of QC inhibitors to treat mild cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome, Familial British and Familial Danish Dementia and the use of QC inhibitors to treat these diseases, as well as Alzheimer’s disease, in combination with additional agents. These agents comprise, among others, beta amyloid antibodies, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, beta secretase inhibitors, and gamma secretase inhibitors.

“This is an important step to expand our patent estate around QC inhibition as a novel treatment paradigm in Alzheimer’s disease and other CNS diseases”, said Hans-Ulrich Demuth, CSO and co-founder of Probiodrug. “It extends our IP on QC inhibitor treatments to CNS diseases other than Alzheimer’s and also to combination treatments, in which QC inhibitors are used alongside other compounds already marketed or under development.”

“Our patent estate now has grown to more than 35 patent families for QC inhibitors, including claims for composition of matter, formulations, and methods of treatment in various indications”, commented Matthias Hoffmann, VP Legal and Intellectual Property. “We have already been granted four patents in the US: one is the world’s first patent covering broad methods to treat sporadic Alzheimer’s disease using QC inhibitors, while the others cover QC inhibitors and the use of QC inhibitors in methods to treat CNS diseases such as Familial Alzheimer’s diseases.”

Familial Alzheimer’s disease is a rare form of Alzheimer’s, accounting for less than 5% of all Alzheimer’s incidences. In many cases, it is inherited. Onset of the disease usually is very early and can appear as early as of 16 years of age. In contrast, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs at age 65 or beyond.

About Probiodrug AG

Probiodrug is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative small molecule drugs for the treatment of neuronal and inflammatory diseases. In these areas, Probiodrug is validating new 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 emerging with a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and various additional inflammatory conditions. 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) Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The first drug based on Probiodrug`s technologies reached the market in late 2006. Proceeds of the various transactions have been reinvested to fund the novel approach for the treatment of AD.

The Company was founded in 1997 by Prof Dr Hans-Ulrich Demuth and Dr Konrad Glund. It had previously raised a total of US$52 million, excluding the current round, and achieved attractive financial returns to investors. In 2007, the company acquired Ingenium Pharmaceuticals AG; Hendrik Liebers joined the company as CFO the same year. Probiodrug is located in Halle (Saale), Germany, and operates a subsidiary in Martinsried/Munich, Germany. For more information, please visit www.probiodrug.de.

Company Contact:
Prof Dr Hans-Ulrich Demuth
Vice-CEO and CSO
Probiodrug AG
Weinbergweg 22
D-06120 Halle/ Saale
Germany
Tel.: +49 345 55599-00
Fax: +49 345 55599-01
Mail: hans-ulrich.demuth@probiodrug.de

Media Contact:
Dr Ludger Weß
akampion
Saseler Loge 6b
D-22393 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49 40 88 16 59 64
Fax: +49 40 88 16 59 65
Mail: ludger@akampion.com