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Research Indicates Synthetic Compound NV-52 May Be Useful in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
NV-52 Is Part of an Emerging Class of Pharmaceutical Compounds Shown to Have a Wide Range of Beneficial Physiological Effects
| Source: Novogen, Limited
NEW CANAAN, CT and SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - November 13, 2007) - An article published
in a recent edition of the peer review journal Expert Opinion, Vol. 16, No.
8, reveals the compound NV-52, developed by Novogen Limited (ASX : NRT )
(NASDAQ : NVGN ), may be useful for the maintenance of remission in
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IBD comprises two different syndromes: ulcerative colitis, which involves
the rectum and colon, and Crohn's disease in which any portion of the
gastrointestinal tract may be affected. The disease is characterized by
periods of remission interspersed with 'flares' when the disease relapses,
causing acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding and fatigue. There is no
cure for IBD and medical therapy attempts to decrease the frequency of
flares -- maintaining remission, or maintenance therapy. Unfortunately,
none of these treatments is without unpleasant side effects.
NV-52, a synthetic flavonoid, has completed Phase 1a and 1b clinical trials
in healthy volunteers in Australia, where it demonstrated no detectable
side effects, as well as the likelihood of requiring just once daily
dosing. NV-52 has been shown to be effective in suppressing colonic
inflammation in laboratory mice and has not displayed any toxicity in in
vitro and extensive animal toxicological studies.
NV-52 is thought to work as a selective thromboxane synthase (TXS)
inhibitor, which researchers believe may play a major therapeutic role in
IBD due to its apparent ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory thromboxanes.
Thromboxanes are produced in excess in inflamed gut mucosa of IBD patients
and even in the uninflamed bowel in Crohn's disease. The research shows
NV-52 may be effective at preventing and limiting the severity of IBD when
administered in low doses prior to, and during colonic inflammation.
The article indicates that NV-52 seems to be a principal developmental drug
of interest at the present time for the prevention of relapse in IBD,
particularly for the large portion of patients who have mild-to-moderate
disease.
"Our research suggests that NV-52 will be a safe and well-tolerated therapy
and animal studies provide promise that it may have useful efficacy," said
Laurence Howes, Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Griffith and
Bond University Medical School in Queensland, Australia, and lead author of
the study. "Improved maintenance therapy remains the greatest unmet
medical need in treating IBD, with the challenge in drug development being
a non-toxic agent that will maintain disease remission."
NV-52 is part of an emerging class of synthetic isoflavonoid compounds.
Isoflavones have been reported to have a wide range of pharmaceutical
effects in animal studies and in clinical research.
Novogen Limited researchers hope the compound could one day become a
leading therapy for the treatment and maintenance of remission in IBD.
About Novogen Limited:
Novogen Limited (ASX : NRT ) (NASDAQ : NVGN ) is an Australian biotechnology
company that has patented isoflavone technology for the treatment and
prevention of degenerative diseases and disorders. Over the past ten years,
Novogen has conducted the largest and most comprehensive isoflavone
clinical testing programs in the world. Novogen is involved in drug
discovery and product development for disorders that are commonly
associated with aging and coordinates an international clinical research
and development program with external collaborators, hospitals and
universities. For more information, visit www.novogen.com.
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