MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

20 Jun 2006 07:00

Minster Pharmaceuticals PLC20 June 2006 For Immediate Release 20 June 2006 MINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC ("Minster" or "the Company") Commencement of Phase II trial in prevention of migraine with aura Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: MPM), the drug development companyspecialising in neurological and psychiatric disorders, is pleased to announcethat the first patients have been recruited to a Phase II clinical trial oftonabersat, the Company's lead compound, in the prevention of migraine withaura. The trial is being conducted at the Danish Headache Centre, at Copenhagen'sGlostrup University Hospital, by Professor Jes Olesen, Director of the Centre,who heads a large research group with major projects in many areas of headacheresearch. Migraine with aura is a type of migraine in which the headache is accompanied bysymptoms such as flashing lights in the eyes and abnormalities of cutaneoussensation or speech. Around 15 per cent of migraine sufferers, of which thereare an estimated 32 million in the US alone, experience aura symptoms. This placebo-controlled trial will include around 34 patients and is of across-over design, in which patients will first take either tonabersat orplacebo for a three-month period. The treatment regime will then be reversedsuch that those initially on placebo will receive tonabersat and vice versa. The primary end point of the trial is the reduction in the number of migraineheadache days experienced by the trial patients. The results of the trial areexpected in the third quarter of 2007. This tonabersat trial is running concurrently with a Phase II trial in theprevention of headache in the general migraine population, which has beenunderway since March this year. Tonabersat is in an exciting new class of drugs called gap junction blockers,which are the subject of significant interest from clinicians and pharmaceuticalresearchers for their potential in the prevention of migraine as an alternativeto current acute treatments. Minster Pharmaceuticals acquired rights totonabersat in early 2001 from GlaxoSmithKline, which conducted extensivetoxicological and clinical studies on the compound, establishing its safetyprofile and providing promising evidence of activity in the treatment ofmigraine. Paul Sharpe, Minster Pharmaceuticals' Chief Executive, said: "I am delightedthat the University Hospital in Copenhagen is conducting this trial in migrainewith aura under the leadership of Professor Olesen. This trial complements ouron-going Phase II trial and will provide further clinical data on tonabersat'spotential in the rapidly growing market of migraine prevention." - 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