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Proteome Systems Announces Significant Results in Its EUK-207 Therapeutic Program For Acute Cognitive Impairment at World Neuroprotective Conference

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 October 2006, 06:00 CDT

SYDNEY, Australia and WOBURN, Mass., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today Proteome Systems Ltd announced exciting results, further supporting its EUK-207 therapeutic development program to prevent acute cognitive impairment occurring during carotid artery bypass graft (CABG) and open heart surgery.

This new data was presented at the International Society for Neuroscience Meeting held in Atlanta, GA, by Drs. Miou Zhou, Reymundo Dominguez and Michel Baudry, (Neuroscience Program, University of Southern California.) on October 15, 2006.

One of the significant risks associated with heart surgery is cognitive impairment. This can be identified a few days or weeks following the procedures and in many cases is not reversible.

Globally recognized scientists from The University of Southern California, in collaboration with Proteome Systems, have shown that Proteome Systems' compounds, including EUK-207 in particular, potently prevent neuronal damage induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation due to CABG.

This data significantly extends previous studies in which EUK-207 had been shown to prevent cognitive impairment in aging mice along with the reversal of age-related learning deficits and brain oxidative stress in mice with superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics(*).

This new data from Dr. Baudry's laboratory at the University of Southern California significantly strengthens the case for EUK-207 as a neuroprotectant for a range of neurological conditions. Initial clinical studies will be focused on the indication of neuroprotection relating to CABG.

EUK-207 is a small molecular weight proprietary molecule which potently scavenges reactive oxygen metabolites generated when blood flow to the brain is intermittently interrupted, as is the case in surgeries such as CABG. More generally, this includes operations involving heart-lung machines such as open

heart surgeries. There are over 600,000 such procedures conducted each year in the US alone.

Dr. Bernard Malfroy-Camine, Executive Vice President, Therapeutics at Proteome Systems, said, "The previous studies performed by separate institutes have shown not only the prevention but also the reversal of age-related neurological impairments in animal models. This latest work now addresses the mechanisms of neuroprotection by our compounds. Quite importantly, these in- vitro experiments demonstrate that the removal of free radicals results in a partial reversal of adenosine triphosphate depletion (ATP is a molecule that is the principal form of energy immediately usable by the cell) which otherwise results in neuronal death."

Stephen Porges, Chief Executive of Proteome Systems added, "This new data clearly supports our Therapeutic strategy. We will aggressively develop EUK- 207 for the neurological consequences of CABG and, more generally, open heart surgeries, indications for which no effective treatments are currently available."

* Liu, R., Liu, I. Y., Bi, X., Thompson, R. F., Doctrow, S. R., Malfroy, B., & Baudry, M. (2003). Reversal of age-related learning deficits and brain oxidative stress in mice with superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 100, 8526-8531.

Additional information about Proteome Systems can be found at http://www.proteomesystems.com/.

Proteome Systems Ltd

CONTACT: Susan Fitzpatrick of DatelineMedia for Proteome Systems Ltd,Susan.fitzpatrick@DatelineMedia.com, Australia Office: +61-2-90061614, USAOffice, +1-650-279-7771

Web site: http://www.proteomesystems.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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