For Immediate Release
Source: NeoTherapeutics, Inc.
New Research Findings for Spinal Cord Injury are Presented
**Report at the Society of Neuroscience 27th Annual Meeting**
IRVINE, California - October 28, 1997 - NeoTherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEOT) presented new research findings today that treatment with its lead compound, AIT-082, demonstrated an increase in neurotrophic factors following spinal cord injury in rats. These findings were reported today at the Society of Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans. This study was conducted at NeoTherapeutics and McMaster University, and was partially funded by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada.
After seven days of treatment with AIT-082, rats with spinal cord injuries showed an increase in the levels of CNTF and BDNF, naturally occurring growth factors in the spinal cord. These factors have been shown to play an important role in the regeneration of spinal cord motor neurons in cell culture studies. "These are preliminary animal results and more work will be required to determine how long after injury the therapy can be initiated", cautioned Michel Rathbone, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., F.R.C.P. ( c ) of McMaster University, the lead investigator of this study.
"In previous animal studies, AIT-082 has been shown to increase the levels of several neurotrophic factors production in specific areas of the brain in response to age and injury", stated Alvin Glasky, Ph.D., President and CEO of NeoTherapeutics. "Clinical trials for the use of AIT-082 in the treatment of AlzheimerÃs Disease are progressing and the Phase I/II results, to date, have shown the drug is orally absorbed and is well tolerated. These new findings, however, provide us with the possibility of initiating clinical studies in the area of Spinal Cord injury after additional animal research has been completed. "
NeoTherapeutics is engaged in the discovery and development of new drugs that act on the central nervous system to treat neurodegenerative diseases, such as memory deficits associated with AlzheimerÃs disease, ParkinsonÃs disease, impairment associated with aging, stroke, as well as spinal cord injury.
This press release contains forward looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of NeoTherapeutics that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, the biological activity, side effect profile and efficacy of AIT-082, the early stage of product development, the potential need for additional funding, the initiation and completion of additional clinical trials and the dependence on third parties for clinical testing, manufacturing and marketing. These risks are described in further detail in the companies annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Source: NeoTherapeutics, Inc.
Contact: Carol Hess, Investor Relations,
phone: 714-788-6700, fax: 714-788-6706.
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