- BNC375 enhances episodic and working memory
- Performance matches Donepezil (US$2.5 billion sales in 2011) in animal tests
ADELAIDE, South Australia, Feb. 4, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO) today announced that new data on BNC375, its drug candidate with potential for the treatment of memory loss in Alzheimers Disease, will be presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society taking place in Melbourne from 3 – 6 February 2013 at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
BNC375, which is a positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), will be the focus of Poster #143 which will be exhibited today Monday, 4 February 2013 from 12.30pm -2.30pm.
The poster highlights data demonstrating the in vivo memory enhancing properties of this drug candidate in two animal models of cognitive impairment as well as data on the action of BNC375 on the receptor. The animal model data indicates that BNC375 enhances both episodic memory and working memory and that it has equivalent performance compared to Donepezil, a Pfizer product marketed as Aricept with reported US$2.5 billion sales in 2011. BNC375 has a 100-fold therapeutic dose range, from 0.1 to 10 mg/kg and has demonstrated a wide therapeutic window in the preclinical studies conducted to date.
"BNC375 targets Alzheimer's disease and other conditions which are associated with significant memory loss," said Dr Deborah Rathjen, Bionomics' CEO and Managing Director.
"This latest drug candidate to come from our technology platform conforms to Bionomics' focus on developing well differentiated drug candidates to treat serious conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease amongst others," she added.
There is a large body of evidence implicating the α7 nAChR in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Modulation of this receptor enhances cognitive processes, for example working memory and attention, which are compromised in these disorders.
In 2010 the estimated worldwide costs of dementia, including direct and indirect costs of care, was $604 billion with an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide affected by dementia. This is expected to double every 20 years reaching 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. In the US alone an estimated 5.3 million people have Alzheimer's disease including 14% of people over 71 years of age (Source: Business Insights, May 2011, Advances in Alzheimer's Disease Drug Discovery: Innovations, challenges, and future directions).
You can view a copy of the poster on the Bionomics website. www.bionomics.com.au
About Bionomics Limited
Bionomics (ASX:BNO) is an Australian based international biotechnology company which discovers and develops innovative therapeutics for cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. Bionomics has small molecule product development programs in the areas of cancer, anxiety, memory loss and autoimmune disorders, several of which are in or approaching clinical development stage. Its oncology approach includes cancer stem cell therapeutics as well as vascular disruption in solid tumours.
BNC105, which is undergoing Phase II clinical development for the treatment in a range of solid tumour types, is based upon the identification of a novel compound that potently and selectively restricts blood flow within tumours. BNC105 offers blockbuster potential if successfully developed. A clinical program is also underway for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression based on IW-2143(BNC210), a novel compound which stimulates neurite outgrowth. IW-2143 is partnered with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.
Bionomics' discovery and development activities are driven by its four proprietary technology platforms: Angene®, a drug discovery platform which incorporates a variety of genomics tools to identify and validate novel angiogenesis targets (involved in the formation of new blood vessels); MultiCore®, a diversity orientated chemistry platform for the discovery of small molecule drugs; ionX® , a set of novel technologies for the identification of drugs targeting ion channels for diseases of the central nervous system; and CSC Rx Discovery™, which identifies antibody and small molecule therapeutics that inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells. These platforms drive Bionomics' pipeline and underpin its established business strategy of securing partners for its key compounds.
Factors Affecting Future Performance
This announcement contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the United States' Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to prospective events or developments, including, without limitation, statements made regarding Bionomics' development candidates BNC105, IW-2143(BNC210), our acquisition of Eclipse Therapeutics and ability to develop products from their platform, its licensing deal with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, drug discovery programs and pending patent applications are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to our available funds or existing funding arrangements, a downturn in our customers' markets, our failure to introduce new products or technologies in a timely manner, Ironwood's decisions to continue or not continue development of IW-2143, regulatory changes, risks related to our international operations, our inability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies into our existing business and to our competitive advantages, as well as other factors. Results of studies performed on competitors products may vary from those reported when tested in different settings.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable legislation or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which our securities are quoted, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.