Summit plc begins phase I clinical trial in seborrhoea

25-Oct-2007

Summit Corporation plc announced the commencement of a Phase I clinical trial of SMT D002 for the treatment of seborrhoea (excessive sebum production), a symptom of Parkinson's disease and the primary cause of acne.

The recruitment of 18 healthy volunteers for the trial is complete with dosing now underway; treatment is expected to last for five weeks. The study will examine the effects of repeat oral doses of SMT D002 on sebum excretion rates and thereby add to results of an earlier double-blind Phase I study in healthy volunteers using a single oral dose that showed up to a 70% reduction in sebum excretion. Summit expects to report the results from this new study during Q1 2008.

In addition to treating seborrhoea in Parkinson's disease, Summit believes that SMT D002 also has potential use in other therapeutic areas, particularly acne where a reduction in sebum levels would be beneficial. SMT D002 would represent a brand new treatment for acne and future studies planned under its programme in both areas will assess the potential of SMT D002 in a topical formulation as well as oral, in order to establish proof of concept and to create an attractive commercial offering for out-licensing.

SMT D002 has been developed using Summit's drug reprofiling expertise whereby the Company has identified these new indications in Parkinson's disease and acne for a marketed, off-patent small molecule drug that has a long, established history of safe use. The Company has a strong patent position to protect the use of SMT D002 in these new indications.

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