Biovitrum has Successfully Completed the First Phase I Trial of its
5-HT6 Receptor Antagonist (BVT.74316)
Biovitrum's 5-HT6 receptor antagonist (BVT.74316), intended for the
treatment of obesity, controls food intake by stimulating the sense
of satiety in the brain.
A clinical phase I trial of BVT.74316 has now been successfully
completed. This first clinical study, with the objective to test
safety and tolerability in escalating single-dose and repeated-dose
administration was started in August 2006. In total, 98 healthy
volunteers have participated in the study. A safe and tolerable dose
has been identified.
- This project does not fall within the new business focus of
Biovitrum since part of our strategy is to out-license primary care
indication projects. It is therefore natural that we do not continue
to drive the development of this program further, says Biovitrum's
CEO Martin Nicklasson. Instead we work on re-focusing our research
and other activities to the development of specialist care drugs,
directed towards small patient groups with large unmet medical needs.
In this area we already have a strong portfolio with four projects in
clinical phase I and II and products that we sell in the Nordic
countries.
Now, having reached this milestone the project will be offered for
out-licensing, Martin Nicklasson concludes.
About Biovitrum
Biovitrum is one of the largest biopharma companies in Europe. With
operations in Sweden and in the UK Biovitrum conducts research and
develops pharmaceuticals for unmet medical needs both for conditions
that affect smaller patient populations and for common diseases.
Biovitrum has currently a broad and balanced R&D portfolio with
several projects in clinical and preclinical phases within for
instance blood diseases. Biovitrum develops and produces
protein-based drugs on a contractual basis and markets a range of
specialist pharmaceuticals primarily in the Nordic countries.
Biovitrum has revenues of approximately SEK 1.2 billion and around
500 employees. Biovitrum's share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange
in Stockholm since September 15, 2006. For more information see
www.biovitrum.com.
For more information, contact:
Biovitrum AB (publ)
Martin Nicklasson,
CEO
Phone: +46 8 697 20 00
martin.nicklasson@biovitrum.com
Anna Karin Källén, Vice President, Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 8 697 20 85, Cell phone: +46 73 433 20 85
annakarin.kallen@biovitrum.com