Discovery Therapeutics Inc. Announces Phase II Trials for ``Treadmill in a Bottle'' -- MRE0470 --.

RICHMOND, Va.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 16, 1999--

Discovery Therapeutics Inc. (DTI) announced that its partner, Medco Research Inc., has initiated a Phase II clinical trial of MRE0470, a compound DTI Calls a "Treadmill in a Bottle," to be used in diagnosing coronary artery disease. DTI has licensed MRE0470 to Medco which is responsible the clinical development and registration of the compound for this indication.

The clinical trial will determine the appropriate range of doses that will dilate coronary arteries sufficiently to allow diagnosis of coronary artery disease. In the absence of pharmaceutical intervention, patients need to use a treadmill to get the necessary arterial dilation required for this procedure. This Phase II trial is being conducted at six clinical centers across the United States.

DTI's compound MRE0470 is called a "Treadmill in a Bottle" because it eliminates the need for patients with existing heart disease to undergo vigorous physical exercise. Adenoscan(R) is currently used in most pharmacologic stress imaging procedures (which mimic exercise stress testing) in the United States. Adenoscan(R), a formulation of adenosine, has nearly $100 million in annual sales. MRE0470, a more potent and selective derivative of adenosine, could be the next generation Adenoscan(R).

DTI's compound MRE0470 is among a library of adenosine A2a receptor agonists invented by DTI's scientists. These compounds have a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including coronary artery disease, restenosis following angioplasty and wound healing.

DTI's agreement provides that Medco will have exclusive worldwide rights to market and sell licensed products, either directly or through sublicensees. In exchange for these rights, Medco will pay DTI certain licensing fees, development milestones and royalties on future sales of these agonists. DTI retains the right to co-develop and co-promote therapeutic products.

DTI is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focusing on heart and kidney diseases. DTI has three compounds in clinical development, and two others scheduled for clinical trials next year. The company has partnered a skin patch for Parkinson's disease with Schwarz Pharma AG and Yoshitomo; an adenosine receptor agonist for cardiac arrhythmias with Fujisawa Healthcare Inc, and the coronary artery disease diagnostic agent with Medco. A novel treatment for inflammatory kidney disease and a diuretic with a novel mechanism based on adenosine receptor antagonism are under development by the company.