Medivir Files Clinical Trial Application to Start Phase I With MIV-701.STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Medivir (STO:MVIRB) has filed an application with a European regulatory authority to commence phase I clinical trials with MIV-701, an inhibitor of cathepsin K. The trials are expected to start in Q1/2007. Inappropriately high activity of cathepsin K is thought to be a factor behind diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. , 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. , Paget's disease Paget's disease n. 1. A disease, occurring chiefly in old age, in which the bones become enlarged and weakened, often resulting in fracture or deformation. Also called osteitis deformans. 2. and certain tumours causing bone metastases bone metastases Oncology Cancer that has spread from a primary tumor to the bone . Selective inhibition selective inhibition n. See competitive inhibition. of cathepsin K could become a new treatment principle for these diseases. "There is an important need for new and effective drugs against these diseases", says Dr Disa Bottiger, Head of Development Department/Project Director for the development of MIV-701. "Thus far no drug based on inhibition of cathepsin K has reached the market. Several large pharmaceuticals companies are also working with this treatment principle and there are early clinical studies showing positive results from inhibiting cathepsin K. Our compound MIV-701 is a very potent and selective inhibitor of cathepsin K and provides a marked reduction in biomarkers of bone degradation in several model systems". Compounds inhibiting cathepsin K are expected to decrease degradation of bone in osteoporosis, without inhibiting bone formation. This would be a great advantage compared to the drugs most used today, the various bisphosphonates which inhibit both bone degradation and bone formation. The market for osteoporosis treatment is currently in excess of USD USD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the U.S. Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 9 billion annually and is considered likely to grow to USD 11 billion in 2008. Cathepsin K inhibitors are also expected to be efficacious against arthritis conditions and skeletal metastases Metastasis (plural, metastases) A tumor growth or deposit that has spread via lymph or blood to an area of the body remote from the primary tumor. Mentioned in: Malignant Melanoma from malignant tumours. Arthritis is the most common disease of joints, and inhibition of cathepsin K offers a possibility to retard the degradation of joint cartilage. The market for arthritis drugs is estimated to be USD 4.5 billion annually in the US. Treatment of arthritis is currently limited to pain relief and antinflammatory drugs which do not prevent cartilage degradation. The market for drugs against tumour metastases with bone affinity is currently USD 1.5 billion per year and this is also an area with a great unsatisfied medical need. This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net |
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