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Duska Therapeutics' Development of Respiratory Drug Vagonixen(TM) Moves Forward With Newly Published Study on ATP Effects in Asthmatic Patients

Posted on: Thursday, 17 November 2005, 12:00 CST

Duska Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC BB:DSKT) today announced the publication of a clinical research study showing that ATP - adenosine 5'-triphosphate - may play a significant role in asthma symptoms. Duska is developing a proposed drug, Vagonixen(TM), as a novel treatment of airway disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma and cough that would block a specific cell surface receptor activated by ATP and thereby alleviate symptoms of these disorders.

The study, sponsored by the company as part of its Vagonixen(TM) development program, was conducted by Professor Peter Barnes, Dr. Sergei Kharitonov and their colleagues at the Imperial College of Medicine in London, U.K. Results were published in the October issue of Chest (2005; 128(4):1905-09), the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

The researchers sought to determine the effects of inhaled ATP on airway function in asthmatic patients and to compare these effects with those of adenosine. They found that, in this patient group, ATP is a more potent constrictor of airways and inducer of shortness of breath and other symptoms than adenosine alone.

ATP is a biological compound found in every cell of the human body; it is released from cells into the extracellular space under certain physiologic and disease conditions. This extracellular ATP is rapidly degraded to adenosine, which is a known bronchoconstrictor. ATP and adenosine affect cellular functions by activating two distinct groups of receptors, P2 and P1. Duska is developing Vagonixen(TM) as a blocker of a specific P2 receptor subtype in the lungs.

"This study highlights the potential importance of ATP as a mediator of airway diseases and prompts further research in this area, particularly with the recent development of specific ATP receptor blockers," said Professor Barnes.

Dr. Amir Pelleg, Duska's President and Chief Scientific Officer said: "We are pleased with the results obtained in this study at the Imperial College, which further validate Duska's target receptor in the lungs and strengthen the rationale behind the development of Vagonixen(TM). The present data clearly indicate that the effects of ATP on the airways of asthmatic patients are independent of its by-product adenosine and mediated by P2 receptors distinct from the P1 adenosine receptors. Earlier work published by Professor Barnes and his colleagues has shown that the levels of extracellular ATP in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders are significantly elevated. Taken together, these data strongly suggest a mechanistic role for extracellular ATP in chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders mediated by P2 receptors."

About Duska Therapeutics

Duska Therapeutics, Inc., based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that is focusing on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products related to adenosine 5'-triphosphate, or ATP, and ATP-related P2 receptors. Duska owns or has exclusive license rights to a number of proprietary diagnostic and therapeutic applications, four of which are currently in various stages of development in the fields of syncope (fainting), male infertility, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders and cough, and glaucoma. For more information, visit Duska's website: www.duskatherapeutics.com

Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to the potential inability of Duska to acquire from a third party or identify a molecule that would meet the pharmacologic criteria of Vagonixen(TM) drug candidate, Duska's limited financial resources and its need to raise additional capital by the first quarter of 2006 to fund its ongoing working capital and drug development needs, the early stage of Duska's drug development projects, the need for future clinical testing of Duska's drug candidates, uncertainties regarding the scope of the clinical testing that may be required by regulatory authorities and the outcomes of those tests, the significant time and expense that will be incurred in developing any of the potential commercial applications for Duska's P2R technologies, risks relating to the enforceability of any patents covering Duska's products and to the possible infringement of third party patents by those products, and the impact of third party reimbursement policies on the use of and pricing for Duska's products. Additional uncertainties and risks are described in Duska's most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-KSB, all quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB and any current reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of the last Form 10-KSB. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Duska on the date the statements are first published. Duska undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: Business Wire

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