Research Indicates Synthetic Compound NV-52 May Be Useful in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

NV-52 Is Part of an Emerging Class of Pharmaceutical Compounds Shown to Have a Wide Range of Beneficial Physiological Effects


NEW CANAAN, CT and SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - November 13, 2007) - An article published in a recent edition of the peer review journal Expert Opinion, Vol. 16, No. 8, reveals the compound NV-52, developed by Novogen Limited (ASX: NRT) (NASDAQ: NVGN), may be useful for the maintenance of remission in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IBD comprises two different syndromes: ulcerative colitis, which involves the rectum and colon, and Crohn's disease in which any portion of the gastrointestinal tract may be affected. The disease is characterized by periods of remission interspersed with 'flares' when the disease relapses, causing acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding and fatigue. There is no cure for IBD and medical therapy attempts to decrease the frequency of flares -- maintaining remission, or maintenance therapy. Unfortunately, none of these treatments is without unpleasant side effects.

NV-52, a synthetic flavonoid, has completed Phase 1a and 1b clinical trials in healthy volunteers in Australia, where it demonstrated no detectable side effects, as well as the likelihood of requiring just once daily dosing. NV-52 has been shown to be effective in suppressing colonic inflammation in laboratory mice and has not displayed any toxicity in in vitro and extensive animal toxicological studies.

NV-52 is thought to work as a selective thromboxane synthase (TXS) inhibitor, which researchers believe may play a major therapeutic role in IBD due to its apparent ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory thromboxanes. Thromboxanes are produced in excess in inflamed gut mucosa of IBD patients and even in the uninflamed bowel in Crohn's disease. The research shows NV-52 may be effective at preventing and limiting the severity of IBD when administered in low doses prior to, and during colonic inflammation.

The article indicates that NV-52 seems to be a principal developmental drug of interest at the present time for the prevention of relapse in IBD, particularly for the large portion of patients who have mild-to-moderate disease.

"Our research suggests that NV-52 will be a safe and well-tolerated therapy and animal studies provide promise that it may have useful efficacy," said Laurence Howes, Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Griffith and Bond University Medical School in Queensland, Australia, and lead author of the study. "Improved maintenance therapy remains the greatest unmet medical need in treating IBD, with the challenge in drug development being a non-toxic agent that will maintain disease remission."

NV-52 is part of an emerging class of synthetic isoflavonoid compounds. Isoflavones have been reported to have a wide range of pharmaceutical effects in animal studies and in clinical research.

Novogen Limited researchers hope the compound could one day become a leading therapy for the treatment and maintenance of remission in IBD.

About Novogen Limited:

Novogen Limited (ASX: NRT) (NASDAQ: NVGN) is an Australian biotechnology company that has patented isoflavone technology for the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases and disorders. Over the past ten years, Novogen has conducted the largest and most comprehensive isoflavone clinical testing programs in the world. Novogen is involved in drug discovery and product development for disorders that are commonly associated with aging and coordinates an international clinical research and development program with external collaborators, hospitals and universities. For more information, visit www.novogen.com.

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