MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

24 May 2006 07:01

Minster Pharmaceuticals PLC24 May 2006 For immediate release 24 May 2006 MINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC ("Minster" or "the Company") Collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: MPM), the drug development companyspecialising in neurological and psychiatric disorders, is pleased to announcethat it has entered a collaboration with the University of California, LosAngeles (UCLA), in which UCLA will conduct studies relating to the mechanism ofaction of tonabersat, Minster's compound for the prevention of migraine. The UCLA studies will look at tonabersat's influence on brain function and thebiochemical events that underlie the onset of a migraine attack. In particular the studies, which will be funded by UCLA, will look attonabersat's ability to inhibit the intercellular propagation of astrocytecalcium waves and the possibility that the site of this inhibition is inconnexin channels. These studies will potentially reveal a fundamental mechanismin the onset and development of migraine. The Principal Investigator for the studies is Professor Andrew Charles MD, theDirector of the Headache Research and Treatment Program at the Department ofNeurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. This collaboration is one of a series of planned collaborations with majorinternational institutions to define tonabersat's full therapeutic potential. Paul Sharpe, Minster Pharmaceuticals' Chief Executive, said: "I am delightedthat an academic institution with the UCLA's international standing in neurologyhas decided to carry out mechanistic studies on tonabersat with a view tofurther characterising its mode of action and potential in the prevention ofmigraine." Prof Andrew Charles, Director of the Headache Research and Treatment Program atUCLA, said: "We are looking forward to working with tonabersat and are excitedthat our studies at UCLA hold the prospect of elucidating a novel action bywhich tonabersat blocks a basic mechanism of migraine." - 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. 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