Additional Info - OT - Australia scientists work on anti-Alzheimer's pill

[Guest guest]

Dr. Fudenberg,

Here is additional information on the PBT2 (was PBT1) clinical trials.

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From Herald Sun

New hope for Alzheimer's cure

By Robyn Riley

July 23, 2006

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19877417-24331,00.html

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Excerpts from Prana Biotechnology website -

http://www.pranabio.com/research/

In 1987 Professors Masters, Beyreuther and Tanzi discovered the way

beta-amyloid was produced and in 1994 Dr Bush discovered the

interaction between metals and beta-amyloid, causing toxicity in

Alzheimer's disease. This work paved the way for the development of

therapeutic drugs to treat the disease.

Based on these fundamental theories and supporting evidence, a known

compound (PBT1) was identified as having significant potential as a

therapeutic agent. In June 2001, the scientific journal Neuron

published a study conducted by Prana sponsored scientists Dr.

Cherny and Dr Bush reporting that PBT1, a copper/zinc-binding drug,

given orally to transgenic mice markedly reduced their Alzheimer

brain pathology within nine weeks. Beta-amyloid accumulation

decreased by 50 percent during that period. This breakthrough

provides a viable explanation for the abnormal binding of these

metals with beta-amyloid that is commonplace in Alzheimer's disease.

The reaction ultimately leads to the corruption of the protein and

its ensuing toxicity. Copper and Zinc are normally present at high

concentrations in the regions of the brain that are most affected by

Alzheimer's disease damage.

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http://www.pranabio.com/research/drug_discovery_dev.asp

Rational Drug Design

Prana's Medicinal Chemistry program was established in June 2001 in

facilities at The University of Melbourne. Rational drug design

employs computer-generated models, which target the molecular

composition of various substances (in the case of Alzheimer's Disease

the beta-amyloid protein) and designs new chemical entities with the

propensity to influence the targeted proteins and metal-mediated

hydroxyl radical formation which leads to neurodegenerative changes.

Our research program aims to find further and potentially more

effective preferred compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's

disease as well as for our other major disease targets.

In early August 2003, we announced that a new lead MPAC molecule for

Alzheimer's disease, designated as PBT2, had been selected for

development. PBT2 is the result of rational drug design. It has been

built " from the ground up " to fulfill very specific criteria. It was

designed so that it will have no patent ambiguities, be orally

bioavailable and cross the blood brain barrier. PBT2 has been

selected from over 300 Prana-developed compounds and has demonstrated

significantly greater effectiveness in both pre-clinical in-vitro and

in-vivo testing and has been designed to have an improved safety and

efficacy profile compared to PBT1. Initially concentrating on the

development of novel MPAC within the same chemical class as PBT1, the

successful design and synthesis of PBT2, the chemistry towards the

synthesis of novel MPACs has now expanded to include multiple other

chemical classes.

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Prana Biotechnology page on research -

http://www.pranabio.com/research/major_published_papers.asp

Prana Biotechnology page on clinical trials -

http://www.pranabio.com/research/clinical_trials.asp

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PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial in Alzheimer's Disease Patients

May 11, 2006

http://biz./prnews/060511/nyth084.html?.v=51

PBT2 Demonstrates Rapid and Potent Effects in Cognition, Reduction of

Brain Soluble Beta-amyloid and Significant Improvement in Synaptic

Function in Mouse Models

July 20, 2006

http://www.pranabio.com/company_profile/press_releases_item.asp?id=109

PRANA Biotechnology (PRAN) Provides Additional Comment On PBT2 In

Response To Recent Press Coverage And Share Price Activity

July 24, 2006

http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?StoryID=25069 & full=1