UPPSALA, Sweden, May 27, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Uppsala-based Drug Discovery & Development company Melacure is on exhibit at one of this year's largest gatherings for biotech and pharma companies, the BIO 2003 in Washington D.C. in June. BIO 2003 is likely to attract more than 20,000 delegates representing the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as investors, health care workers and media.
The participation is another step in building the awareness of Melacure as a rapidly evolving Drug Discovery & Development company with a leading position in e.g. the melanocortin receptor area.
Melacure's portfolio of drug development projects includes novel principles addressing areas with great medical need such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia, obesity, diabetes, sexual dysfunction and inflammation. In collaboration with Eli Lilly, Melacure is conducting a phase II clinical study in IBS patients with a GLP-1 based compound, which will be concluded in 2004. The company also plans to enter clinical trials with its novel melanocortin-based treatment for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in late 2003.
The establishment of additional partnerships with leading pharma companies able to commercialise Melacure products is part of Melacure's strategy.
Melacure is a privately owned Swedish pharmaceutical company, established in 1998, which focuses on pioneering R&D in selected areas. Working with research groups at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute, Melacure has built unique know-how and intellectual property in the melanocortin receptors and other areas. Important projects include obesity/diabetes, sexual dysfunction and inflammation. A Melacure project in atopic dermatitis/psoriasis is planned to enter the clinical phase in late 2003. Melacure website: www.melacure.com
For further information, please contact: Per-Olof Wallstrom, CEO, Melacure Therapeutics, phone: +46 18 56 72 05 Ake Nilsson, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Melacure Therapeutics AB, phone: +46 18 56 72 40 Ulf Vallgren, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Melacure Therapeutics AB, phone: +46 18 56 72 48
The press release in PDF format can be downloaded from the following link.http://reports.huginonline.com/905523/118687.pdf