Massachusetts General Hospital

Confirmatory Data Supports Effectiveness of Cogane™ in ALS

18/Apr/2012

Press Release:
Phytopharm plc today announces that the histopathology data from its previously reported study of Cogane™ in a genetic preclinical model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), further supports the efficacy of Cogane™ in ALS.

The study was performed in a model that has a mutation in the SOD1 gene (SOD1G93A); mutation of the SOD1 gene is a known cause of ALS in humans. In this study, Cogane™ was administered orally for 50 days, commencing after ALS-type symptoms were manifest. This is therefore considered to be a model of severe, late-stage ALS.

In January of this year the Company reported preliminary data from the study demonstrating that administration of Cogane™ resulted in a 30-50% improvement in muscle strength in one muscle type compared to both the untreated control group and a group treated with riluzole (currently the only product marketed for the treatment of ALS). Treatment with Cogane™ also resulted in an increase in the number of motor units (a measure of functional motor neurones) compared with both the untreated and riluzole treated groups.

The Company is now able to report that the histopathology data from this study shows that administration of Cogane™ reduced the loss of spinal cord motor neurones by 39% compared with the number damaged in the untreated animals (a statistically significant difference; p=0.008). Treatment with riluzole resulted in a 29% but not statistically significant reduction. Additionally, microscopic examination showed that Cogane™ protected muscle composition, supporting the results reported previously on muscle strength.

This study was performed by Professor Linda Greensmith’s group at University College, London, with the financial support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a UK based charitable organisation.

Mr Tim Sharpington, CEO, Phytopharm, said, “We are pleased that these additional data support the preliminary findings from this study. CoganeTM has been shown to be effective in a number of pre-clinical models of ALS, underlining its potential to be a significant new treatment for this disease. We would like to thank the Motor Neurone Disease Association for their support of this study.”

Enquiries:
Phytopharm plc
Tim Sharpington, CEO
Roger Hickling, R & D Director
+44 1480 437 697

U.K. Investor Relations
FTI Consulting Limited
Ben Atwell
John Dineen
+44 207 831 3113

For further information about Phytopharm, please see our website at http://www.phytopharm.com