Start of in-Patient Clinical Trials With NT-KO-003, the First Neuroprotective Drug for Multiple Sclerosis Without Immunosuppressive Effects

BARCELONA, July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

– NT-KO-003, developed by Advancell and Neurotec Pharma, is the first MS drug with neuroprotective effects that does not cause immunosuppression.

– This treatment is one of the first to be administered orally, whereas the few treatments available in Spain require parenteral administration (intravenous or subcutaneous) and have significant side effects.

– NeuroAdvan, the Phase IIa clinical trial, will be led by Dr Pablo Villoslada, director of Neuroimmunology at IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, ??and conducted in 105 patients in 14 hospitals in Europe. It will represent an investment of 2.2 M €, part of which will be financed by the Catalan Local Government and the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

– This project brings to clinical proof of concept the first molecule arising from Neurotec´s research in the field of acute and chronic central nervous system diseases; Advancell reaffirms its business model consisting of the development of new drugs to Phase II, and to subsequently license them to a pharmaceutical company.

The biotechnological companies Advancell and Neurotec Pharma, both based in Barcelona Science Park (PCB), Spain, have announced the initiation of a clinical Phase IIa study with NT-KO-003, an innovative oral therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). NT-KO-003 was codeveloped by both companies and its mechanism of action is completely different from the drugs currently used to treat this disease.

The clinical trial, called NeuroAdvan, will be conducted in 105 patients from 11 hospitals in Spain (4 of them in Catalonia) and 3 in Germany, and will be led by Dr Pablo Villoslada, director of Neuroimmunology at IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Spain. The project is being conducted in collaboration with the MRI Analysis and Research Center in Neuroimaging and Multiple Sclerosis (CARM) at the Hospital Vall d´Hebron, Barcelona, led by Dr. Alex Rovira, and also with advice from Dr. Rafael Arroyo at the San Carlos Cinical Hospital, Madrid, Spainm and Dr. Xavier Montalban from Hospital Vall d´Hebron, Spain. Results from the study are expected in late 2012.

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