MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

13 Jan 2006 07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE13 January 2006 Minster Pharmaceuticals to collaborate with University of Copenhagen to investigate the potential of tonabersat in the prevention of migraine with auraCambridge, UK, 13 January 2006, UK Minster Pharmaceuticals, the AIM-listed (AIM: MPM)drug development company, today announced a collaboration with University ofCopenhagen and Danish Headache Centre at Glostrup Hospital, to evaluate the useof its development drug, tonabersat, in migraine with aura. In this condition,which affects a significant section of the population suffering from migraine,the migraine headache is preceded by disturbances of vision, often accompaniedby significant nausea and other unpleasant symptoms.Agreement has been reached to conduct a Phase II clinical study to evaluatetonabersat in the prophylaxis (prevention) of this type of migraine with itstroublesome symptoms for which no specific treatments are currently available.This study is expected to be part of a broader collaboration between Minster,the University of Copenhagen and other centres investigating the mechanismsunderlying migraine.Professor Jes Olesen, one of Europe's leading neurologists and past presidentof the International Headache Society, who will be leading the study, stated,"We are learning more all the time about the underlying causes of migraine andthe aura which frequently precedes the headache phase of an attack. Tonabersat,with its novel mechanism of action as a gap junction blocker, has the potentialto offer an effective and well-tolerated preventative for sufferers of thisfrequently troublesome condition. For this reason we will be providing asignificant contribution to the financing of this programme from researchgrants."Paul Sharpe, Chairman and CEO Minster Pharmaceuticals, added, "Thiscollaboration with the prestigious Danish Headache Centre at University ofCopenhagen, Glostrup Hospital represents a significant enhancement of ourdevelopment programme with tonabersat. The study complements our on-going PhaseII prophylaxis study in the general migraine population and is expected toprovide major insights into the use of tonabersat in the preventitivetreatmentof this common and under-treated condition. It represents a further significantstep towards the establishment of tonabersat as a preventative treatment formigraine." --ENDS-- For further information, please contact:Minster Pharmaceuticals plc Dr Paul Sharpe, CEO +44 (0)1799 506623 Northbank Communications +44 (0)207 886 8150 Rowan Minnion (media enquiries) About Minster PharmaceuticalsMinster Pharmaceuticals is an AIM-listed (AIM:MPM) drug development companyspecialising in compounds for the treatment of neurological and psychiatricconditions. The Company was established as BioPartners Ltd in 2001 when itacquired from GlaxoSmithKline the worldwide development rights for twocompounds, tonabersat and sabcomeline, which have benefited from GSK'ssubstantial investment. Tonabersat, a novel compound for the treatment andprevention of migraine, completed a Phase II programme in over 1000 patients inthe late 1990s, and is being developed further in this indication by MinsterPharmaceuticals. Sabcomeline has completed clinical trials in over 2,500patients, and has been identified as a potential treatment for chronicschizophrenia. It is now in Phase II trials.Development work is carried out byservice providers such as contract research organisations, and at theappropriate time Minster plans to license its pharmaceutical products topharmaceutical companies in order to complete development, register and marketthe drugs. As well as the development of sabcomeline and tonabersat, thecompany is looking to take on the development of further compounds by way ofacquisition or in-licensing. For more information, please go to www.minsterpharma.com.MINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC