VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals Reports that Preclinical Testing of CGRP
(Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) Analogs May Be Useful in Treating
Heart Failure
“Our analogs, for which we have
filed a composition-of-matter patent, should retain the therapeutic
properties of CGRP in the clinic for the treatment of heart failure.”
- G. Lee Southard, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO
LENEXA, Kan. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) October 27, 2008 --
VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (www.vasogenix.net)
announced today that preclinical in vivo screening of a series of synthetic
analogs of calcitonin gene-related peptide (‘CGRP’),
which naturally occurs in humans, retained the properties of CGRP at
equal or greater potency. The Company will select one of these compounds
to pursue for the treatment of heart failure, which is the nation’s
most expensive disease. Heart failure affects five million Americans
annually and is the number-one cause of death in persons over 65.
CGRP is concentrated in the heart, where nerves secrete it to protect
the heart and keep heart cells alive. Unfortunately, when there is an MI
(myocardial infarction) or CHF (congestive heart failure), an
insufficient amount is present to have a meaningful effect. CGRP appears
to benefit the heart by (1) increasing local blood flow; (2) protecting
heart muscle cells from damage due to lack of oxygen; and, (3)
modulating the immune system, which reduces inflammation and protects
the heart. These benefits minimize heart muscle damage and subsequent
scar tissue formation, while promoting the healing process.
Preclinical in vivo testing of VasoGenix’s
CGRP analogs confirms that they retain the therapeutic properties of
CGRP that are important for the treatment of heart failure.
“We have a tremendous success story building
here in Kansas City, the heartland of America,”
said G. Lee Southard, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of VasoGenix
Pharmaceuticals. “Our drug development
program is capitalizing on the strengths of the Kansas City-area’s
highly skilled clinical and academic research organizations (CROs and
AROs), cost-effective development, and seed funding from several Kansas
economic development agencies and private investors. As a result, we
expect to file an IND (Investigational New Drug) application with the
FDA to begin human clinical trials for heart failure treatment with our
selected compound, for which we have filed a composition-of-matter
patent.”
VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals is a privately held, emerging
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cardiovascular drugs.
The Company is focused initially on positioning its compound related to ‘CGRP’
(calcitonin gene-related peptide) as a front-line treatment for heart
failure.
Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical
facts, are forward-looking statements, as the term is defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these
forward-looking statements by the use of words such as, “expects,”
“plans,” “estimates,”
“projects,” “promises,”
“intends,” “believes,”
and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which
can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently
anticipated, due to a number of factors, which include, but are not
limited to, to identify strategic partners or, if identified, the
inability to enter into an acceptable agreement with such strategic
partners and successfully concluding the development and regulatory
processes. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made
as of today, based upon information known to management as of the date
hereof. VasoGenix assumes no obligation to update or revise any of its
forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show
that indicated results or events will not be realized.
See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/heart_failure/calcitonin_gene/prweb1531844.htm
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