EMERYVILLE, Calif. and HUENENBERG, Switzerland, April 30, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX:NBY) announced today that the latest public data on its Aganocide® compounds, a new class of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, will be presented during three poster sessions at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
NovaBay's Aganocide compounds are first-in-class anti-infectives being developed for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections. NovaBay and Alcon, Inc., the world's leading eye care company, have a licensing and research collaboration agreement for the use of NovaBay's Aganocide compounds in the eye, ear and sinus, and for contact lens care.
The following abstracts will be presented:
"In vitro Microbicidal Activity in Tears of N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (NVC-422, AL-46383A), a Novel Topical Ophthalmic Agent,"
- Monday, May 3, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Abstract Authors: Dr. Kathryn Najafi, founder and medical director of the Eye Institute of Marin and a NovaBay advisor; Dr. Stephen Wilmarth, NovaBay advisor and a founding member of Medical Vision Technology; and David Stroman, Ph.D., and Masood Chowhan, Ph.D., of Alcon Laboratories, et. al.
"In vitro Evaluation of N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (AL-46383A) as an Antiviral Agent Against Adenovirus and HSV-1,"
- Monday, May 3, from 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Abstract Authors: Eric G. Romanowski, Kathleen Yates, and Dr. Y. Jerold Gordon of the Charles T. Campbell Lab at the University of Pittsburgh; and David Stroman, Ph.D. of Alcon Laboratories., et. al.
"Topical N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (AL-46383A) Inhibits Adenovirus Replication in the Ocular Ad5/NZW Rabbit Replication Model,"
- Thursday, May 6, from 2:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Abstract Authors: Dr. Y. Jerold Gordon, Kathleen A. Yates and Eric G. Romanowski of the Charles T. Campbell Lab at the University of Pittsburgh et. al. and David Stroman, Ph.D., of Alcon Laboratories
Abstracts of the presentations may be accessed at www.arvo.org.
NVC-422, or AL-46383A, is a stable compound based on the chemical structures of N-chlorotaurine (NCT) and N,N-dichlorotaurine, which are naturally occurring antimicrobial agents produced by the body's white blood cells to fight invasive pathogens.
Alcon is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of this compound for the treatment of viral conjunctivitis, a form of "pink eye". The randomized, placebo-controlled trial is enrolling approximately 250 patients at more than 30 medical centers in the United States and worldwide. It is designed to determine the safety and efficacy of NVC-422 or AL-46383A.
About NovaBay's Aganocide® Compounds
The Aganocide® compounds are novel, proprietary, synthetic N-chlorinated antimicrobial molecules specifically developed by NovaBay to mimic the body's natural defense against infection. The Aganocide compounds maintain biological activities while improving the stability of naturally occurring N-chlorinated antimicrobial molecules. These highly differentiated, first-in-class, small molecule, patented new chemical entities may deliver the same or better efficacy than currently used antibiotics without contributing to the growing rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. In preclinical testing, the Aganocide compounds have been shown to be highly effective against bacteria, including its multi-drug resistant strains (such as MRSA), viruses and fungi. They also have been demonstrated to be effective against bacteria in biofilm, which render most antibiotics ineffective. The Aganocide compounds have a broad therapeutic index while providing a high degree of potency and tolerability as well as dosing versatility and flexibility.
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing its proprietary and patented Aganocide® compounds, which are novel, synthetic anti-infective product candidates with equivalent activity to the active antimicrobial molecules generated within white blood cells. NovaBay's Aganocide compounds are being developed to treat and prevent a wide range of infections without causing bacterial resistance. NovaBay has internal development programs aimed at addressing hospital and respiratory infections. The company has a license and research collaboration agreement with Alcon for use of its Aganocide compounds to treat eye, ear and sinus infections as well as for contact lens care. NovaBay has also entered into an agreement with Galderma S.A. to develop and commercialize Aganocide compounds in acne, impetigo and other dermatological indications. For more information on NovaBay, visit: www.novabaypharma.com.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based upon management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs. Words such as "believe," "expect," "may" and other words and variations of these words implying future events, identify these statements as forward-looking statements. Statements regarding NovaBay's expectations on the potential efficacy of the Aganocide compounds as well as other statements that relate to future results are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different and adverse from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Other risks relating to NovaBay and its Aganocide compounds, including risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements in this press release, are detailed in NovaBay's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009, under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part I of that report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2010. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date, and NovaBay disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement except as required by law.