PROMICS GRANTED AUSTRALIAN PATENT FOR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG.The Australian Patents Office has granted Brisbane-based biotechnology company Promics Pty Ltd. a patent for its anti-inflammatory drug PMX-53. The patent includes compound and method of treatment claims to PMX PMX Premix PMX Partially Mapped Crossover (genetic algorithms, Computer science) PMX Packet Multiplexer PMX Pulsar Multiplex PMX Presentation Manager for the X Window System PMX Paired Mesoderm Homeobox 53 and related compounds. Corresponding patent applications are pending in the United States, Japan, Europe and Hong Kong. Promics' drug PMX-53 acts by blocking the C5a receptor which acts earlier in the immune and inflammatory process than the targets of conventional anti-inflammatory drugs Anti-inflammatory drugs A class of drugs that lower inflammation and that includes NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Mentioned in: Antirheumatic Drugs . This reduces the potential for side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. and significantly reduces the associated pain and tissue damage caused by inflammation. The drug also has the potential to act more effectively across a wider range of the population than currently available treatments. "The collective inflammatory diseases market is the largest disease market in the world," said Alan Scott, 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. , Promics Pty Ltd. "For example, the pharmaceutical market for the five most common inflammatory related diseases, 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. , sepsis, 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 , multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. , is estimated to be worth more than US$44 billion per year." "We have compelling animal data that suggest this drug may have significant human applications. We are on track to begin Phase Ia Human Trials at the end of this year in Europe with Phase II efficacy trials scheduled to begin in first /second quarter 2003." "Subject to human trial results etc, this is the beginning of a significant growth path for Promics. PMX-53 may open up possible treatments for a whole range of inflammatory diseases as well as potential use in respiratory diseases, organ transplants and heart attacks. This drug PMX 53 has the potential to work across a very broad spectrum of inflammatory disease states." "As far as we are aware, there are no therapeutic products available that work as early as C5a inhibitors in the inflammation process and PMX-53 promises to be most likely the first in a new category of drugs for these difficult to treat diseases," said Scott. Promics has several compounds that are being developed to address a range of diseases, both human and veterinary diseases. PMX-53 is the first drug that Promics plans to take to clinical trials. About Promics Established in December 1999, Promics Pty Ltd. is a venture capital backed company based on technology developed at the University of Queensland The University of Queensland (UQ) is the longest-established university in the state of Queensland, Australia, a member of Australia's Group of Eight, and the Sandstone Universities. It is also a founding member of the international Universitas 21 organisation. . Initial investors were Rothschild Bioscience Managers and Start-up Australia. Promics' technology focuses on developing drugs that target C5a and G protein coupled receptors, critically important receptors found in most parts of the body. For more information, visit http://www.promics.com.au. |
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