ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., May 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will present new data on the efficacy and safety of Piclozotan in improving both dyskinesia and OFF time in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients on levodopa who experience motor complications. Such motor complications may substantially reduce the benefit of levodopa, the gold-standard of therapy. In a two-day pilot study, Piclozotan increased dyskinesia-free ON time and reduced OFF time in patients controlled on levodopa. Patients seemed to acclimate rapidly to the main adverse events (nausea/vomiting, headache and dizziness) of Piclozotan. Overall safety was consistent with other 5-HT1A agonists. "An agent that improves both OFF time and dyskinesia would allow for better optimization of levodopa, which would be of significant benefit to PD patients," said Dr. Jacob Sage, MD, Professor of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, the study's Primary Investigator. The data will be presented at the Movement Disorder Society's 13th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, June 7-11 in Paris, France. Preclinical data supporting the clinical results will be also presented by Asubio Pharma Co. Ltd. at this meeting.
Piclozotan is an investigational serotonin (5HT1A) receptor agonist devoid of dopamine antagonist activity, in early phase clinical development by Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 5-HT neurons may be a key source of unregulated dopamine concentrations in the brain, which are thought to be the cause of motor complications in PD. Co-administering Piclozotan with levodopa could inhibit excessive 5-HT neuronal activity and may effectively treat both dyskinesia and OFF time associated with levodopa use in patients with PD. Currently, no treatment exists that can adequately treat one element of levodopa-induced motor complications (dyskinesia or OFF time) without potentially exacerbating the other.
Piclozotan is available for licensing worldwide. For additional information, contact Daina Cardillo at (203) 762-8833 or dcardillo@KLCpr.com.
About Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Asubio Pharma Co., Ltd, a pharmaceutical business entity that is wholly owned by Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. Established in the U.S. in June 1999, Asubio focuses on the early stage clinical development of novel new chemical entities and biologics discovered by its Japanese parent. For more information, visit www.asubio.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about the potential of the investigational compound Piclozotan and reflects Asubio's current beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical compound under development, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of development and regulatory review. All statements, facts, information, analyses, interpretations, and opinions contained in the report are provided "As Is" and are made without representation or warranty of any kind by Asubio, or their respective parents, affiliates, officers, employees, contractors or business partners as to accuracy, completeness, usefulness, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or otherwise. There is no guarantee that later studies and patient experience with Piclozotan will be consistent with study findings to date. Asubio makes no guarantee, warranty, or assurances concerning the future financial return of an existing or proposed product or service related to the business alliance under evaluation. Asubio undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements, and does not provide or act as a substitute for legal guidance and expertise. Piclozotan is being developed for the treatment of motor complications associated with Parkinson's disease and has not been approved in any country by any regulatory authority for any indication.