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The intellectual property is based on research conducted in the JHUlaboratories of Craig Morrell, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Charles Lowenstein, M.D.,that demonstrates the importance of glutamate release in promoting plateletactivation and thrombosis and which identifies the AMPA receptors on plateletsas a new antithrombotic target. Published in the March issue of The Journal ofExperimental Medicine, the research shows that platelets treated with an AMPAreceptor antagonist are more resistant to agonist-induced aggregation thanuntreated platelets. The studies also show that mice treated with an AMPAreceptor antagonist have a prolonged time to clot formation and blood vesselocclusion compared with control mice.
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"This is breakthrough research that further illustrates the importance ofglutamate receptors as a new target for a wide range of indications," saidNeil Kurtz, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of TorreyPinesTherapeutics. "Additionally, the findings underscore the versatility andcommercial prospects for our lead AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists,tezampanel and NGX426. By acting through a different mechanism of action thanPlavix(R), aspirin or tPA, our compounds could one day provide a treatmentalternative for the more than 1.5 million people affected by stroke or heartattack each year."
Tezampanel, given subcutaneously, and NGX426, given orally, are currentlybeing developed by TorreyPines Therapeutics for the treatment of acutemigraine and chronic pain. Tezampanel has also been safely administeredintravenously in five positive Phase II studies.
Tezampanel is the first AMPA/kainate-type glutamate receptor antagonist tobe studied in clinical trials for chronic pain. Glutamate receptors mediatethe functioning of glutamate, an important excitatory neurotransmitter. Whilenormal glutamate production is essential, excess glutamate production, eitherthrough injury or disease, can have a range of pathological effects. By actingat both the AMPA and kainate receptor site to competitively block the bindingof glutamate, both tezampanel and its oral prodrug, NGX426, have the potentialto treat a number of diseases and disorders. These include migraine and otherforms of chronic pain such as neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity andrigidity, thrombosis, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and a condition known ascentral sensitization, a persistent state of hypersensitivity to pain that isa core component of many pain conditions.
About TorreyPines Therapeutics
TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company committed toproviding patients with better alternatives to existing therapies through theresearch, development and commercialization of small molecule compounds. Thecompany's goal is to develop versatile product candidates each capable oftreating a number of acute and chronic diseases and disorders such asmigraine, chronic pain, muscle spasticity and rigidity, xerostomia andcognitive disorders. The company is currently developing four productcandidates, two ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists and two muscarinicreceptor agonists. Further information is available athttp://www.torreypinestherapeutics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements or predictions.Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statementsregarding the potential for tezampanel and NGX426 as a treatment for
