MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

21 Mar 2006 07:00

Minster Pharmaceuticals PLC21 March 2006 For Immediate Release 21 March 2006 MINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC ("Minster" or "the Company") Commencement of Phase II trial in prevention of migraine Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: MPM), the drug development companyspecialising in neurological and psychiatric disorders, is pleased to announcethat it has recruited the first patients in a multi-national Phase II clinicaltrial of tonabersat, the Company's lead compound, in the prevention of migraine. The first patients have been recruited to the Danish Headache Centre at GlostrupHospital, Copenhagen which will be followed by patient recruitment at centres inthe UK, Hungary and South Africa. The trial is being led by Professor PeterGoadsby, Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Neurology in London. It is anticipated that around 130 patients in total will be recruited to thetrial, which will involve patients taking either tonabersat or placebo on aonce-daily basis for three months. The primary endpoint of the trial will be thereduction in the number of days that patients suffer a migraine. The timing ofthe results of the trial, which will in part be influenced by the speed ofpatient recruitment, is expected to be during the first quarter of 2007. 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 delighted that the first patients have been recruited to this Phase IItrial. The preventive treatment of migraine is a new and rapidly growing market,as underlined by sales of Topamax, and where there is clear evidence of unmetmedical need. Tonabersat is a novel product that has the potential to addressthis market where in the US alone there are 32 million migraine sufferers." - 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