Arbor Vita
Corporation and NoNO Inc. today announced that a poster highlighting the
Phase I clinical trial of the collaboration's investigational compound NA-1
for the treatment of stroke will be presented at the 2007 International
Stroke Conference being held in San Francisco February 7 - 9. The
conference, jointly sponsored by the American Stroke Association and the
American Heart Association, will highlight more than 700 presentations
emphasizing basic and clinical sciences.
The poster, "A Phase I Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled
Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetic Study of Intravenous NA-1 in
Healthy Subjects", will be presented at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 7.
NA-1 is a compound that has been shown to inhibit the interaction
between NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptors and PSD-95. NMDA receptors
mediate excitatory neurotransmission between brain neurons, whereas PSD-95,
a protein containing PDZ domains, links NMDA receptors to signaling enzymes
downstream from NMDA receptors. It is believed that because NA-1 acts
downstream of the NMDA receptor, cell death can be selectivity blocked
without disrupting the essential functions of the NMDA receptor itself,
including the normal transmission of signals between nerve cells. In animal
toxicity studies, NA-1 has shown safety and tolerability following
intravenous administration, and reduced ischemic damage when administered
three hours following stroke onset.
The ongoing Phase I study is designed to determine the safety and
tolerability of ascending intravenous doses of NA-1, as well as collecting
pharmacokinetic data in up to 72 healthy men and women. The study is
expected to be completed by March 2007. Preliminary results from the
clinical trial will be provided in the poster to be presented at the
International Stroke Conference.
About Arbor Vita Corporation
Arbor Vita (arborvita) is a biotechnology company
focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel drugs
and diagnostics addressing disease through a new family of targets, PDZ
proteins. PDZ proteins are critical elements that organize and regulate
many signaling pathways in human cells. Arbor Vita is pioneering the
development of therapeutics and diagnostics through their unique
understanding of the role of PDZs in cell signaling and disease. The
company is tackling major health issues including cancer, infectious
diseases such as influenza, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
About NoNO Inc.
NoNO Inc. is a biotechnology company founded for the purpose of
developing and commercializing therapeutic compounds for the treatment of
stroke and related CNS disorders. NoNO Inc. was founded by scientists, many
of whom are world leaders in basic and/or clinical neuroscience. NoNO Inc.
has focused on strategies for developing therapeutic agents that
selectively interfere with key pathways of neurological diseases, including
pathways that involve PDZ domains, while minimizing side effects. Its lead
projects are in the areas of stroke, neurotrauma, and tissue ischemia.
Arbor Vita Corporation
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