SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Biotech / Medical : Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX)
NBIX 135.75+0.1%Jan 9 9:30 AM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Torben Noerup Nielsen who wrote (571)4/7/2000 12:19:00 AM
From: Asymmetric   of 1834
 
Neurocrine Biosciences Ends Devt Of Lead CRF Antagonist

Dow Jones Newswires/April 5, 2000

SAN DIEGO -- Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (NBIX) said a back-up compound that resulted from a collaboration with Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. unit will be substituted for Janssen's lead CRF antagonist R121919.

In a press release Wednesday, Neurocrine said a decision has been made to discontinue further development of R121919, based on observations of reversible increases in liver enzymes in two volunteers in an expanded safety trial in the U.K. About 250 subjects to date have been treated in various clinical trials with no other observed safety issues, Neurocrine said.

Separately, Neurocrine said Phase I clinical trials are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2000 for its unpartnered CRF antagonist compound for anxiety/depression. This proprietary compound is from a novel chemical series which is distinct from R121919.

Based on pre-clinical studies, Neurocrine said the proprietary compound has demonstrated "improved specificity and greater potency together with excellent pharmacokinetic properties."

CRF was first identified and cloned by Neurocrine co-founder Wylie Vale and his colleagues at the Salk Institute, Neurocrine said.

Neurocrine holds the patent rights to the CRF family of receptors and has developed multiple series of selective, potent, small molecule antagonists for these receptors.

CRF functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a critical role in coordinating the body's responses to stress.

In pre-clinical models, selective CRF1 receptor antagonists block stress responses - evidence that this novel mechanism may result in improved anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs, Neurocrine said.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext