Tokyo, Feb. 18, 2002 - (JCN Newswire) - Kyowa Hakko, a leading Japanese
research-based pharmaceutical and
biotechnology company, has successfully
completed two Phase 2A
clinical trials in the United States which
demonstrate potential for the treatment of
Parkinson's disease by Kyowa
Hakko's proprietary compound KW-6002. The details of these studies will be
announced at the American Academy of
neurology (AAN) Conference in Denver
this April.
KW-6002 is a selective A2A antagonist that provides a unique and promising
mechanism of action for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is
confirmed that KW-6002, in either mono or combination therapy with levodopa
or
dopamine agonists, improves the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in an
animal model (i.e. Parkinsonian monkey model) without increasing incident
or severity of dopaminergic-related side effects or inducing or worsening
dyskinesia.
"KW-6002 has potential as a new type of Parkinson's drug therapy that
differs in mechanism from present dopamine-related agents including
levodopa,
dopamine agonists and COMT
inhibitors," says Tadashi Hirata,
Ph.D., President and CEO of Kyowa Hakko. "We expect that KW-6002 will be an
important contribution to the treatment and well-being of Parkinson's
disease patients."
Dr. Hirata continued, "we have submitted patent applications worldwide for
use of this new class of drugs to treat Parkinson's disease."
Currently, Kyowa Hakko is preparing for pivotal Phase IIb and Phase III
trials in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Dr. Hirata added
that the global development of KW-6002 for treating Parkinson's disease
demonstrates Kyowa Hakko's commitment to develop innovative pharmaceutical
products for the global marketplace and to maximize our Pharmaceuticals
business and new technologies.
About Kyowa Hakko
Kyowa Hakko (www.kyowa.co.jp), a leading Japanese research-based,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, is devoted to discovering,
developing, manufacturing, and marketing quality pharmaceutical products
and bio-chemicals such as
amino acids. Six compounds including KW-6002 and
KW-7158(an agent for treating urinary incontinence) as strategic themes are
now under development overseas. Additionally, its pharmaceutical central
research is focused on two therapeutic fields and drug discovery utilizing
antibody-based technologies. Those therapeutic fields include cancer and
allergies, where Kyowa Hakko has a strong background worldwide with
products such as Mitomycin and Olopatadine.