MONTVALE, N.J., March 13, 2007/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: MEMY) today announced the dosing of the first subject in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a clinical trial of MEM 3454, the company’s lead nicotinic alpha-7 receptor partial agonist, in Alzheimer's disease. The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and cognitive effects of three doses of MEM 3454 in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
"MEM 3454 showed promising cognitive effects in its Phase 1 clinical trial and we’re
excited about evaluating its efficacy in a disease setting,” said Stephen R.
Murray, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Development. “We now have two
drug candidates, with two distinct mechanisms of action, in clinical trials for
the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and we expect to report top-line results
from both trials in the fourth quarter of this year."
The trial will enroll approximately 80 subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
disease at multiple sites in the United States. Subjects will be randomized to
receive 5 mg, 15 mg or 50 mg of MEM 3454 or placebo once daily for a period of
eight weeks. The primary objective of the trial is to assess the effect of MEM
3454 using the Quality of Episodic Secondary Memory (QESM) factor score from
the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) battery. Secondary objectives include
assessing the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of
MEM 3454 and the drug candidate’s effect on additional psychometric test items
from the CDR battery and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale -- Cognitive
subscale (ADAS - cog).
Under the terms of the Company’s nicotinic alpha-7 agonist collaboration with Roche, the
Company leads the development of MEM 3454 through Phase 2a clinical trials, and
following the completion of these trials, Roche has the right to obtain an
exclusive license to MEM 3454. Roche maintains this right through the
development process by making payments to Memory Pharmaceuticals upon its
achievement of certain predefined development milestones.
About MEM 3454
MEM 3454 is a partial agonist of the nicotinic alpha-7 receptor, a highly
specialized receptor found in the CNS. Compounds acting on this receptor could
be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, as
well as other psychiatric and neurological disorders. MEM 3454 is the Company's
lead drug candidate from its nicotinic alpha-7 agonist program. Memory
Pharmaceuticals is developing MEM 3454 as potential therapy for Alzheimer's
disease and is considering developing the compound as a treatment for
schizophrenia as well as other disorders that affect cognition.
About the Company
Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company, is focused on developing
innovative drugs for the treatment of debilitating CNS disorders such as
Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. For
additional information, please visit our website at
http://www.memorypharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or Memory
Pharmaceuticals’ prospects, future financial position, future revenues and
projected costs should be considered forward-looking. Readers are cautioned
that actual results may differ materially from projections or estimates due to
a variety of important factors, including the risks and uncertainties
associated with: obtaining additional financing to support Memory
Pharmaceuticals' R&D and clinical activities and operations; conducting
preclinical and clinical trials of Memory Pharmaceuticals’ drug candidates that
demonstrate these candidates' safety and effectiveness; receiving unfavorable
results from clinical trials of Memory Pharmaceuticals’ drug candidates;
obtaining regulatory approvals to conduct clinical trials and to commercialize
Memory Pharmaceuticals’ drug candidates; Memory Pharmaceuticals’ ability to
enter into and maintain collaborations with third parties for its drug
development programs; Memory Pharmaceuticals’ dependence on its collaborations
and its license relationship with Bayer; achieving milestones under Memory
Pharmaceuticals’ collaborations; Memory Pharmaceuticals’ dependence on
third-party preclinical or clinical research organizations, manufacturers and
consultants; and protecting the intellectual property developed by or licensed
to Memory Pharmaceuticals. These and other risks are described in greater
detail in Memory Pharmaceuticals’ filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Memory Pharmaceuticals may not actually achieve the goals or plans
described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place
undue reliance on these statements. Memory Pharmaceuticals disclaims any intent
or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of
developments occurring after the date of this press release.
SOURCE Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp.
http://www.memorypharma.com/
