STOCKHOLM, Sweden, August 22, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Diamyd Medical (O-list) informs that Neurologix Inc has treated a first patient suffering from Parkinson's disease using GAD gene therapy. Diamyd Medical licenses exclusive rights to gene therapy using GAD.
The GAD gene therapy was carried out by Dr. Michael Kaplitt, Assistant Professor of the Weill Cornell Medical Center and Director for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
The FDA has approved a Phase 1 clinical study where 12 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease are given gene therapy. In the first place the study is a safety study to investigate if it is safe to carry out gene therapy with GAD in adeno associated virus. The effect of the treatment on the disease will also be studied.
GAD is an important enzyme that converts glutamate to the transmitter GABA. GAD has been shown to be an important molecule in the disease process that results in insulin-dependent diabetes. GAD also plays a major role in several neurological diseases.
"GAD gene therapy for Parkinson's disease is an interesting high-risk project that is being tested on humans," says Anders Essen-Moller, Diamyd Medical's CEO. "Neurologix is aware of Diamyd Medical's patent rights. Should GAD gene therapy succeed this is good news for Diamyd Medical. Neurologix will then have to come to an agreement with Diamyd Medical on a mutually agreeable form of collaboration that would, for example, mean the payment of royalties to Diamyd Medical.
About Diamyd Medical:
Diamyd Medical's business idea is the identification and development of pharmaceutical projects up to and including Phase II studies. Diamyd Medical is at present running a number of GAD-based development projects and has licensed the rights to these from universities in the US. The Company's project that has come farthest is a vaccine for insulin-dependent diabetes. Positive results from a Phase II study with the diabetes vaccine have been reported.
For further information, contact Johannes Falk, Diamyd Medical AB (publ), Tel: +46 8-661 00 26, 661 12 25, fax: +46 8-661 63 68 or email: info@diamyd.com, web site: www.diamyd.com
No guarantee is given or implied of the accuracy of statements in this press release.
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