Research Indicates Synthetic Compound NV-52 May Be Useful in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
13 Novembro 2007 - 11:04AM
Marketwired
NEW CANAAN, CT and SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (NASDAQ: NVGN), may be
useful for the maintenance of remission in inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD).
IBD comprises two different syndromes: ulcerative colitis, which
involves the rectum and colon, and Crohn's disease in which any
portion of the gastrointestinal tract may be affected. The disease
is characterized by periods of remission interspersed with 'flares'
when the disease relapses, causing acute abdominal pain, diarrhea,
bleeding and fatigue. There is no cure for IBD and medical therapy
attempts to decrease the frequency of flares -- maintaining
remission, or maintenance therapy. Unfortunately, none of these
treatments is without unpleasant side effects.
NV-52, a synthetic flavonoid, has completed Phase 1a and 1b
clinical trials in healthy volunteers in Australia, where it
demonstrated no detectable side effects, as well as the likelihood
of requiring just once daily dosing. NV-52 has been shown to be
effective in suppressing colonic inflammation in laboratory mice
and has not displayed any toxicity in in vitro and extensive animal
toxicological studies.
NV-52 is thought to work as a selective thromboxane synthase
(TXS) inhibitor, which researchers believe may play a major
therapeutic role in IBD due to its apparent ability to inhibit
pro-inflammatory thromboxanes. Thromboxanes are produced in excess
in inflamed gut mucosa of IBD patients and even in the uninflamed
bowel in Crohn's disease. The research shows NV-52 may be effective
at preventing and limiting the severity of IBD when administered in
low doses prior to, and during colonic inflammation.
The article indicates that NV-52 seems to be a principal
developmental drug of interest at the present time for the
prevention of relapse in IBD, particularly for the large portion of
patients who have mild-to-moderate disease.
"Our research suggests that NV-52 will be a safe and
well-tolerated therapy and animal studies provide promise that it
may have useful efficacy," said Laurence Howes, Professor of
Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Griffith and Bond University
Medical School in Queensland, Australia, and lead author of the
study. "Improved maintenance therapy remains the greatest unmet
medical need in treating IBD, with the challenge in drug
development being a non-toxic agent that will maintain disease
remission."
NV-52 is part of an emerging class of synthetic isoflavonoid
compounds. Isoflavones have been reported to have a wide range of
pharmaceutical effects in animal studies and in clinical
research.
Novogen Limited researchers hope the compound could one day
become a leading therapy for the treatment and maintenance of
remission in IBD.
About Novogen Limited:
Novogen Limited (ASX: NRT) (NASDAQ: NVGN) is an Australian
biotechnology company that has patented isoflavone technology for
the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases and
disorders. Over the past ten years, Novogen has conducted the
largest and most comprehensive isoflavone clinical testing programs
in the world. Novogen is involved in drug discovery and product
development for disorders that are commonly associated with aging
and coordinates an international clinical research and development
program with external collaborators, hospitals and universities.
For more information, visit www.novogen.com.
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