Tripos Extends Its COMT Inhibitor Program With CeNeS Pharmaceuticals.ST. LOUIS & CAMBRIDGE, England -- Tripos, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRPS TRPS Trigger Point (myofacial pain) TRPS TrichoRhinoPhalangeal Syndrome TRPS Temperature Regulating Power Supply TRPS Time Reporting and Payroll System ), a leading provider of drug discovery chemistry and informatics products and services, and CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM:CEN CEN - Conseil Européen pour la Normalisation. A body coordinating standardisation activities in the EEC and EFTA countries. ), a central nervous system (CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (CNS). )-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced today that they have extended their research agreement to develop catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT COMT Catechol-O-Methyltransferase COMT Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist ) inhibitors to treat Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, degenerative brain disorder first described by the English surgeon James Parkinson in 1817. When there is no known cause, the disease usually appears after age 40 and is referred to as Parkinson's disease. . Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Tripos and CeNeS began this multiyear collaboration in 2003. Using Tripos' knowledge-driven chemistry process to investigate the inhibition of COMT with analogues of CeNeS' proposed leads, they succeeded in identifying several series of novel active compounds, thereby achieving a chemical breakaway from currently marketed COMT inhibitors COMT inhibitors Drugs that block catechol-o-methyl transferase, an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. COMT inhibitors include entacapone and tolcapone. Mentioned in: Parkinson Disease . Tripos and CeNeS are now jointly developing these lead series with a view to further optimizing in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. and in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. activity as well as their ADMET ADMET Acyclic Diene Metathesis ADMET Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (drug properties) (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) profile, thus addressing the known limitations associated with existing marketed therapies. "Following on our previous successes, we are well positioned to continue progression through lead optimization and to deliver proof-of-concept data for one or more of our novel COMT inhibitors," said Dr. Gary Tilbrook, chemistry director for CeNeS. "Our COMT discovery program has continued to perform to plan, and we are excited about its potential to deliver improved therapies for the treatment of Parkinson's disease." "We are very pleased with the progress on this project," said Dr. Mark Allen, senior vice president and managing director of Tripos Discovery Research, Ltd., based in Bude, England. "This partnership builds on each company's strengths, and we believe that it will continue to produce promising results." About Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease affects approximately 2 percent of the population over the age of 65, representing approximately 4 million patients worldwide. Parkinson's disease results from a loss of the neurotransmitter neurotransmitter, chemical that transmits information across the junction (synapse) that separates one nerve cell (neuron) from another nerve cell or a muscle. Neurotransmitters are stored in the nerve cell's bulbous end (axon). dopamine dopamine (dōp`əmēn), one of the intermediate substances in the biosynthesis of epinephrine and norepinephrine. See catecholamine. dopamine One of the catecholamines, widely distributed in the central nervous system. in the brain. Replacement therapy using L-DOPA, the precursor of dopamine, is the main treatment. However, L-DOPA is quickly metabolized in the gut and liver, allowing only a small proportion (approximately 1 percent) to reach the brain. After prolonged use of L-DOPA, its beneficial effects are reduced and patients develop motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. These probably represent the biggest single problem in the long-term management of a patient with Parkinson's disease. The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase also causes significant depletion of L-DOPA in the brain and periphery, limiting the efficacy of L-DOPA replacement therapy. The use of COMT inhibitors is increasing; they currently represent about 10 percent of the market for Parkinson's disease. General This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning, among other things: (1) expectations regarding the development, optimization and potential of leads; (2) expectations regarding the existing collaboration with CeNeS; and (3) expectations regarding the development or improvement of therapies. These statements are based upon numerous assumptions that Tripos cannot control and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. These statements should be understood in light of the risk factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitations those factors set forth in the Company's Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and from time to time in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not have any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. About CeNeS Pharmaceuticals CeNeS (AIM:CEN) is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development and commercialization of drugs for pain control, sedation Sedation Definition Sedation is the act of calming by administration of a sedative. A sedative is a medication that commonly induces the nervous system to calm. Purpose The process of sedation has two primary intentions. and other CNS disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The company is based in Cambridge, England. For further information, visit http://www.cenes.com. About Tripos, Inc. Tripos (Nasdaq:TRPS) combines leading-edge technology and innovative science to deliver consistently superior chemistry-research products and services for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other life science industries. Within Tripos' Discovery Informatics (DI) business, the company provides software products and consulting services to develop, manage, analyze and share critical drug discovery information. Within Tripos' Discovery Research (DR) business, Tripos' medicinal chemists and research scientists partner directly with clients in their research initiatives, leveraging state-of-the-art information technologies and research facilities. Further information on Tripos can be found at http://www.tripos.com. Tripos and the Tripos logo are registered trademarks of Tripos, Inc., and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. |
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