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Xanthus' Symadex shows Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis Animal Model

14 Feb 2006 - Xanthus Life Sciences, Inc., announced that data from a study conducted with a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) animal model demonstrated that Symadex(TM) permitted remyelination by prevention of inflammatory cell infiltration. Stephen J. Karlik, Ph.D., Professor of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario presented the research findings in Vancouver.
 
Symadex was found to produce remyelination in the study even after 40 days of inflammatory insult by preventing the infiltration of autoreactive cells into the central nervous system. Treatment proved to be effective in both the acute and chronic presentations of disease.
 
"The early results from this study showed that the animals in the study, which were paralyzed due to neurological impairment, were able to recover and regain their mobility after treatment with Symadex," commented Dr. Karlik.
 
"Symadex is now in Phase 2 trials in oncology and the positive results of this animal model study show the candidate's potential for treating MS and provide the support needed to advance Symadex towards human trials for MS," said Michael A. Boss, PhD. Chief Business Officer at Xanthus. Symadex (formerly C-1311) is a next-generation investigational drug that has shown a potentially novel, targeted mechanism of action in studies of cancer and autoimmune disease. Symadex was developed to deliver efficacy comparable to the anthracenediones (e.g., Novantrone(R) (mitoxantrone)), but with a molecular scaffold intended to reduce the cardio- and hemato-toxicities known to be associated with these active drugs. Additionally, in previous preclinical studies, Symadex has shown early evidence of both oral activity and efficacy in various models of acquired drug resistance and autoimmune disease. The Company is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials with Symadex in several tumor indications and is also exploring the use of Symadex for the treatment of a number of autoimmune diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis.