Two news releases, excluding the "about Alteon" stuff...
Tuesday December 5, 10:50 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Alteon Inc.
Alteon's ALT-711 Development Program to Benefit From American Diabetes Association Funding
RAMSEY, N.J., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Alteon Inc. (Amex: ALT - news) announced today that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has granted $100,000 to Timothy J. Regan, M.D., Professor, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, New Jersey School of Medicine, for a preclinical study of ALT-711, Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker compound.
The six-month dog study, titled ``Interaction of Chronic Hyperglycemia and Aging in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy'' will test the hypothesis that diastolic dysfunction in chronic hyperglycemia (as in diabetes) is enhanced in the aged animal. In this study, ALT-711, Alteon's crosslink breaker, will be used to determine the role that crosslinking of collagen, the major structural protein of the heart muscle, may play in the abnormality of diastolic dysfunction.
Previous work by Dr. Regan demonstrated the ability of ALT-711 to reverse cardiac stiffness in aged dogs, restoring the cardiovascular system to a state found in younger animals. Administration of ALT-711 daily for one month resulted in a 40% reduction in age-related ventricular stiffness, or hardening. These earlier findings are consistent with results by other researchers in preclinical studies of ALT-711 in rats and primates.
The on-drug segment of a Phase IIa human clinical trial of ALT-711 conducted at 9 U.S. clinical sites has recently been completed. Detailed analyses of the study are now being undertaken.
``We're pleased that the ADA is supporting Dr. Regan's work and our preclinical efforts with ALT-711,'' said Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alteon. ``While we continue with our human clinical development program of ALT-711, it is extremely useful to add to our understanding about this unique and exciting compound.''
==========================
Wednesday December 6, 10:03 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Alteon, Inc.
Alteon Appoints Milan Kovacevic, M.D., Ph.D., as Medical Director
RAMSEY, N.J., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Alteon Inc. (Amex: ALT - news) announced today the appointment of Milan Kovacevic, M.D., Ph.D., as Medical Director. Dr. Kovacevic's primary responsibility will be the design and implementation of clinical trials for Alteon's products, particularly ALT-711, Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker.
Prior to joining Alteon, Dr. Kovacevic was Medical Officer for Kendle International Inc., a contract research organization, where he was responsible for medical and safety monitoring and clinical study design. He also served as a Project Manager at Kendle and was responsible for the coordination of a number of clinical research projects. Previously, Dr. Kovacevic worked with Cangene Corporation, a biotech company in Canada, as a clinical research scientist. In addition to his clinical responsibilities there, he interacted with the regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Kovacevic is a specialist in Internal Medicine. Before his pharmaceutical career, he practiced medicine for 11 years. He received his M.D. from the University of Beograd, Yugoslavia in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Nephrology from the same university in 1993.
``Dr. Kovacevic's extensive background includes years of clinical experience as a physician and teacher as well as in clinical research in the biotech industry,'' said Robert C. deGroof, Ph.D., Alteon's Senior Vice President for Scientific Affairs. ``He provides us with the background and skills that are critical to Alteon in our current stage of development, and we are delighted to have him.'' |
