Avicena Completes Dosing Phase of Parkinson’s Study

Avicena has completed the dose-escalating portion of a chronic toxicology study of its lead Parkinson’s disease drug candidate.

Results, which demonstrated that the drug PD-02 is safe and well-tolerated, will allow Avicena to proceed with patient enrollment in a phase III Parkinson’s disease study.

The FDA approved a phase III study design for PD-02 in April 2006, and requested a dose-escalating chronic toxicology study prior to patient enrollment. This study is designed to evaluate PD-02′s potential to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

In preclinical studies, PD-02 has demonstrated significant neuroprotective properties including protection of the dopaminergic cells which are affected in Parkinson’s disease.