Encysive Announces Its Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG, Reported Positive Data in Asthma with Small Molecule Selectin Antagonist.Business Editors/Health/Medical WritersHOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2003 Encysive Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ENCY) today announced that its majority-owned German affiliate, Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG, reported positive results with bimosiamose in a 12 patient, double-blind, cross-over, allergen allergen /al·ler·gen/ (al´er-jen) an antigenic substance capable of producing immediate hypersensitivity (allergy).allergen´ic pollen allergen challenge study in mild asthmatics. The results demonstrated for the first time that a small molecule selectin antagonist can decrease Late Asthmatic Response (LAR), a standard measure of asthma, in patients following allergen challenge. The study with bimosiamose achieved its primary endpoint of LAR decline vs. maximum FEV FEV forced expiratory volume. FEV abbr. forced expiratory volume FEV forced expiratory volume. 1 baseline values (p=0.05, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test). This endpoint is recommended by the American Thoracic Society American Thoracic Society (ATS ), established in 1905, is an independently incorporated, international, educational and scientific society, serving its 18,000 members world-wide who are dedicated in respiratory and critical care medicine. for asthma studies of this type. Bimosiamose was also shown to be well tolerated. "These intriguing results point to a potentially important new approach in the treatment of asthma," said Bruce D. Given, M.D., president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. "We view these findings as proof-of-concept that, taken together with previous pilot study results in psoriasis, support additional work in asthma and other diseases associated with inflammation." Bimosiamose is a pan-selectin antagonist under development by Revotar. In addition to asthma, the company is evaluating bimosiamose in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis Atopic Dermatitis Definition Eczema is a general term used to describe a variety of conditions that cause an itchy, inflamed skin rash. Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is a non-contagious disorder characterized by chronically inflamed skin and . For a complete copy of the Revotar announcement please visit the Revotar Web site at www.revotar-ag.de About Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG is a privately held German company, majority owned by Encysive Pharmaceuticals. The other investors are bmp AG and Medipoint Venture Fonds GmbH, both located in Berlin, Germany. Revotar is located in Hennigsdorf, State of Brandenburg, Germany, and is committed to the discovery and development of small molecule drugs to treat inflammation. Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG owns proprietary rights to the development of small molecules against Macrophage macrophage /mac·ro·phage/ (mak´ro-faj) any of the large, mononuclear, highly phagocytic cells derived from monocytes that occur in the walls of blood vessels (adventitial cells) and in loose connective tissue (histiocytes, phagocytic Migration Inhibitor (MIF (1) (Maker Interchange Format) An alternate file format for a FrameMaker document. A MIF file is ASCII text, which can be created in another program and imported into FrameMaker. ), and the Junctional Adhesion Molecule-1 (JAM-1) and its interaction with LFA-1. Its lead compound bimosiamose (small molecule selectin antagonist) is also being developed in Phase II clinical trials for the topical treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Other indications such as COPD COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD abbr. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , inflammatory bowel disease inflammatory bowel disease n. Abbr. IBD Any of several incurable and debilitating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by inflammation and obstruction of parts of the intestine. , reperfusion injury reperfusion injury damage to renal blood vessels during periods of hypotension does not become apparent until reperfusion occurs in the recovery stage of the vascular incident. , sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. and transplantation may also become promising targets for selectin antagonists. To learn more about Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG please visit their Web site: www.revotar-ag.de About Encysive Pharmaceuticals Encysive Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs, is recognized for our expertise in small molecule drug development and vascular biology. Argatroban, our first FDA-approved product, is being marketed by GlaxoSmithKline for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia heparin-induced thrombocytopenia Acquired thrombocytopenia affecting some heparin-treated Pts–HTPs, defined as a ↓ platelet count during or shortly after heparin exposure; HIT is a markedly prothrombotic disorder seen in Pts who are at a high baseline . Encysive Pharmaceuticals is in Phase III development of the endothelin antagonist, sitaxsentan, for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Our majority-owned affiliate, Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG, is in Phase II development with the selectin antagonist bimosiamose in asthma, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Encysive Pharmaceuticals has several other research and development programs ongoing for a range of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. To learn more about Encysive Pharmaceuticals please visit our Web site: www.encysive.com. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are timing and cost of our clinical trials, attainment of research and clinical goals and milestones of product candidates, attainment of required government approvals, sales levels of our products and availability of financing and revenues sufficient to fund development of product candidates and operations. In particular, careful consideration should be given to cautionary statements made in the various reports Encysive Pharmaceuticals, including as Texas Biotechnology Corporation, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no duty to update of revise these forward-looking statements. |
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