MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

27 Sep 2006 07:00

Minster Pharmaceuticals PLC27 September 2006 For Immediate Release 27 September 2006 MINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC ("Minster" or "the Company") Collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: MPM), the drug development companyspecialising in neurological and psychiatric disorders, is pleased to announce acollaboration with the US National Institutes of Health ("NIH") under which theNIH will study the mechanism by which tonabersat, Minster's lead compound,inhibits abnormal brain function. A program of studies will be led by Dr Michael Rogawski MD PhD, Chief of theEpilepsy Research Section at the National Institute of Neurological Diseases andStroke (NINDS) in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the NIH. Dr Rogawski and his colleagues will focus particularly on tonabersat's impact onthe interactions between nerve cells and glial cells. Abnormalities in theinteractions between these two cell types are increasingly believed to underliethe brain abnormalities that lead to significant neurological conditions. The results from these studies may provide further information on tonabersat'spotential in the management of migraine - Minster's lead indication fortonabersat - and in other neurological conditions including epilepsy. Tonabersat is in an exciting new class of drugs called gap junction blockers,which are the subject of significant interest from clinicians and pharmaceuticalresearchers. Minster is currently undertaking two Phase II clinical trials withtonabersat in the prevention of migraine. Minster Pharmaceuticals acquired rights to tonabersat in early 2001 fromGlaxoSmithKline, which conducted extensive toxicological and clinical studies onthe compound, establishing its safety profile and providing promising evidenceof activity in the treatment of migraine. Paul Sharpe, Minster Pharmaceuticals' Chief Executive, said: "I am delightedthat the National Institutes of Health are taking such a keen interest intonabersat, our lead compound. These preclinical studies may well yieldadditional detail on a novel mechanism of action not shared with any other classof compounds and provide evidence for the compound's potential utility in arange of neurological conditions." - ENDS - For further information: Minster Pharmaceuticals plc Tel: +44 (0) 1799 506623Paul Sharpe, Chief Executive OfficerRobert Aubrey, Chief Financial Officer Buchanan Communications Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000Mark CourtRebecca Skye Dietrich Notes for editors: About Minster Pharmaceuticals plc Minster Pharmaceuticals was co-founded in January 2001 by Paul Sharpe MD, aformer head of the Neuroscience Development Team at SmithKline Beecham, and byRobert Aubrey, who has extensive senior management experience. Minster, whichwas initially named BioPartners Ltd, was formed on the acquisition fromGlaxoSmithKline of the worldwide development rights of two compounds, tonabersatand sabcomeline, which have already benefited from substantial investment byGSK. Tonabersat is the most advanced compound in an exciting new class of drugscalled gap junction blockers, which have significant potential in the preventionof migraine. Sabcomeline, a muscarinic partial agonist, has potential in thetreatment of chronic schizophrenia. Both compounds benefit from comprehensivesafety tolerance data as a result of investment by GSK. Minster's core competence is in drug development. In addition to progressing thedevelopment of tonabersat and sabcomeline, the company has the capability totake on further compounds by acquisition or by in-licensing. Minster joined the AIM market in February 2005 and trades under the symbol MPM.For further information please visit www.minsterpharma.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange