LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Duska Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB:DSKA), a biopharmaceutical company developing diagnostic and therapeutic products based on adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and P2 receptor-related technologies, announced today that the results of a study sponsored by the company and published in the journal of Reproductive Sciences shows the motility of human sperm is enhanced by extracellular ATP. (Scott E. Edwards, et al., "Effects of Extracellular Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate on Human Sperm Motility," 2007; 14: 655-666).
"We are very pleased with the clear outcome of this study, which was carried out in leading academic centers in the U.S. and Europe," said Dr. Amir Pelleg, Duska's President and Chief Scientific Officer. "We believe that these data strengthen the rationale for the development of ATPotent(tm), which contains ATP, as a novel, sperm motility enhancement medium in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI)," he added.
The study, conducted by scientists from the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health of the University of Pennsylvania and the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the University of Padova, Italy, showed that ATP treatment of poorly motile human sperm in vitro (outside of the human body) resulted in improved motility parameters and increased frequency of hyperactivated sperm. Furthermore, improved motility parameters were also observed in human sperm derived from males with asthenozoospermia (a disorder characterized by lack of or low sperm motility), and human sperm from cryopreservation.
The authors suggested that these effects of ATP could explain the increased success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures observed in an earlier non-Duska sponsored European study, in which ATP-treated sperm derived from infertile males with asthenozoospermia were used.
In this Duska-sponsored study, no human embryos were created or destroyed.
About Male Infertility and ATPotent(tm)
Asthenozoospermia, that is, lack of or low sperm motility, is a common cause of human male infertility. It has been reported in the medical literature that the prevalence of asthenozoospermia in infertile men is approximately 82 percent. Currently, there is no FDA-approved product that improves sperm motility. Duska's proprietary ATPotent(tm) is being developed as a sperm processing medium to improve sperm motility in conjunction with IVF and IUI procedures. One component of ATPotent(tm) is ATP, a naturally occurring biological molecule that is found in all human cells. Naturally occurring ATP in the female reproductive tract is believed to play a facilitating role in normal egg fertilization. Several in vitro studies conducted on sperm of human and other species suggest that ATP treatment of poorly motile sperm resulted in improved motility parameters and increased frequency of hyperactivated sperm.
About Duska Therapeutics, Inc.
Duska Therapeutics focuses on the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products related to adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), and cell-surface P2 receptors (P2R). Duska owns or has exclusive license rights to a number of proprietary diagnostic and therapeutic applications, four of which are currently in various stages of development in the fields of cardiac arrhythmias, male infertility, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders and cough, and glaucoma. For more information, visit Duska's website at www.duskatherapeutics.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections made by management. Duska intends for the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes'' "seeks," "estimates," or variations of such words are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All statements in this release regarding the future outlook related to Duska, including beliefs as to the benefits of this sponsored study are forward-looking statements. Additional uncertainties and risks are described in Duska's most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-KSB, all quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB and any current reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of the last Form 10-KSB. Copies of these filings are available through the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Duska on the date hereof. Duska undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.