NeuroSearch's license partner Abbott initiates clinical Phase II study with ABT-894 in neuropathic pain

Announcement


NeuroSearch's license partner Abbott initiates clinical Phase II study with
ABT-894 in neuropathic pain 

NeuroSearch's development and license partner Abbott has initiated a clinical
Phase II study with the drug candidate, ABT-894, for the treatment of diabetic
neuropathic pain (severe chronic pain conditions). The first patient has been
enrolled and dosed in the study. 

This clinical Phase II study is a randomized, double-blind and
placebo-controlled dose-ranging trial to evaluate the efficacy of ABT-894 in
patients suffering from diabetic neuropathic pain. For further study details
please see: 
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00507936?order=1.

ABT-894 is a subtype selective modulator of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine
receptors (NNR), which showed promising effects in pre-clinical models for pain
and other central and peripheral nervous system diseases. Abbott is also
conducting a clinical Phase II study with ABT-894 for the treatment of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The ADHD-study was initiated
in March 2007 and is progressing according to plan. 

Under the terms of the license agreement, Abbott is responsible for the
clinical development and commercialisation of ABT-894 and will finance all
development costs. NeuroSearch will receive milestone payments as well as
royalties on Abbott's global sales. 

The initiation of the Phase II study with ABT-894 in diabetic neuropathic pain
does not change NeuroSearch's financial expectations for 2007 of a loss in the
range of DKK 230-250 million before recognition of associates and other equity
interests as stated in the H1 report 2007 issued on 22 August 2007. 


Asger Aamund
Chairman of the Board



Contact persons:

Flemming Pedersen, CEO, phone: +45 4460 8214 or +45 2148 0118

Hanne Leth Hillman, Vice President, Director of Investor Relations & Corporate
Communications, phone: +45 4460 8212 or +45 4017 5103 

 
NeuroSearch (NEUR) is a Scandinavian biopharmaceutical company listed on the
OMX Nordic Exchange Copenhagen A/S. Our core business covers the development of
novel drugs, based on a broad and well-established drug discovery platform
focusing on ion channels and CNS disorders. A substantial part of the company's
activities are partner financed through a broad alliance with GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) and collaborations with among others Abbott and Astellas. The drug
pipeline comprises 11 clinical development programmes: ACR16 in Huntington's
disease (Phase III preparation), tesofensine in obesity/type 2 diabetes (Phase
II), NS2359 in depression (Phase II) and ADHD (Phase II) in partnership with
GSK, NS1209 in epilepsy and pain (Phase II), ABT-894 in ADHD (Phase II) and
pain (Phase II) in partnership with Abbott, ACR16 in schizophrenia (Phase I) in
partnership with Astellas, ACR325 in bipolar disorder (Phase I) and ABT-107 as
well as ABT-560 for the treatment of various CNS diseases - both (Phase I) in
collaboration with Abbott. In addition, NeuroSearch has a broad portfolio of
preclinical drug candidates and holds equity interests in several biotech
companies.