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Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jibacoa who wrote (2670)	1/24/2001 4:08:40 PM
From: Ian@SI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 52153

SCIO: Perhaps this is the reason for SCIO recent recovery. Looks like the P38 Kinase inhibitor may join Natrecor's ranks sooner rather than later... ++++++++ Scios Announces Phase I Human Clinical Trial Results With Oral P38 Kinase InhibitorPhase Ib Trial With Novel Compound for Rheumatoid Arthritis Scheduled to Begin This Quarter SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan 24, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Scios Inc. (Nasdaq: SCIO) announced today that data from a recently completed Phase I clinical trial of SCIO-469, Scios' novel oral p38 kinase inhibitor, indicate that the drug is well-tolerated in healthy volunteers. Based on these results, Scios will begin a Phase Ib multi-dose trial in healthy volunteers this quarter. Scios is initially developing SCIO-469 as a treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a progressively worsening autoimmune disease of unknown origin in which the body's natural immune system attacks healthy joint tissue causing inflammation and joint damage. "In its first clinical trial, SCIO-469 met our expectations," said George Schreiner, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Scios Inc. "SCIO-469 demonstrated excellent oral bioavailability and plasma pharmacokinetics. It was well-tolerated at a wide range of doses. We will evaluate SCIO-469 in additional safety and efficacy studies this year to further validate its potential for treating the millions of people who suffer from RA worldwide." The objective of this Phase I, placebo-controlled, single dose trial was to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of six different doses of SCIO-469 in healthy volunteers. No significant adverse events were observed. In doses significantly greater than the anticipated therapeutic dose range, some patients experienced mild, transient side effects. Preclinical data demonstrate that SCIO-469 inhibits p38 kinase, a stimulatory modulator of pro-inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), all of which are known to contribute to both symptoms and disease progression in patients with RA. Existing protein-based products that antagonize TNFa have been shown to markedly relieve the symptoms and retard the progression of RA. As an oral inhibitor of TNF, SCIO-469 would offer more convenient dosing over the existing products that must be injected or infused in a medical office. It also has the potential for additional benefits associated with its inhibition of IL-1 and COX-2. "SCIO-469 is the first product from our new technology platform that combines the Company's traditional strengths in molecular biology with computational and medicinal chemistry," said Richard B. Brewer, Scios' president and chief executive officer. "This expanded platform will enable Scios to introduce novel therapeutics for cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases in a more aggressive timeframe than ever before. We plan to bring another new development candidate into our pipeline in 2001." Scios Inc. Scios is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis. The company's disease-based technology platform integrates expertise in protein biology with combinatorial and medicinal chemistry to identify novel targets and rationally design protein-based and small-molecule compounds to treat cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, two of the world's leading unmet medical needs. Additional information about Scios is available at its web site located at www.sciosinc.com and in the company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.