CINCINNATI, OH and MUMBAI, INDIA, August 5, 2010
-- P2D Bioscience (P2D, Inc.), a pharmaceutical development company, announced today that the National
Institutes of Health has awarded a $280,000 grant to P2D Bioscience to further study its lead small molecule TNF-alpha modulator,
PD2024, for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Previous studies have shown that peripheral administration
of P2D’s PD2024, decreased body weight when administered in a preclinical obesity model.
In
the newly funded NIH grant, the efficacy of long-term, chronic PD2024 treatment to reduce weight and increase energy expenditure will be determined in preclinical obesity/diabetes studies. The study will also
determine the effect of PD2024 on food intake, lean mass and body fat. Additionally, the efficacy the drug
to reduce diabetes-related parameters such as insulin-insensitivity will be determined.
P2D’s
TNF-alpha inhibitor obesity program is based on clinical and preclinical studies indicating
that chronic low-grade inflammation fueled by adipose tissue-derived TNF-alpha is an underlying cause of obesity and obesity-related
insulin resistance. P2D is developing small molecule TNF-alpha modulators that are effective after oral
administration to treat obesity and diabetes.
“The market
size for a new safe and effective obesity drug is much larger than the current market” said Dr. Frank Zemlan, CEO of
P2D Bioscience. “The current market is artificially constrained due significant side effect problems
which have led to the withdrawal of several obesity drugs from the market in the past few years.” The
current obesity market is about US$ 1.5 billion but could double or triple in size with the introduction of a safe and effective
obesity treatment.
About P2D Bioscience (P2D, Inc.)
P2D Bioscience is a privately-held
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for central nervous system and pulmonary diseases.
P2D is developing first-in-class treatments for these disorders utilizing novel proprietary chemical compounds.
For example, our obesity treatments are TNF-alpha modulators that are structurally different from currently approved
obesity treatments on the market. Additional information about P2D products in development may be found
at www.p2dinc.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking-statements related to development of P2D’s candidate drug products.
Words such as, but not limited to, “believe”, “could”, “expect”, “anticipate”,
“intend”, “likely”, “should”, “suggest” and similar words identify forward-looking
statements. These statements are not historical facts and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results or the timing of specified events to differ materially from those set forth or implied herein including,
without limitation, risks associated with preclinical and clinical development, regulatory approval, product commercialization,
intellectual property claims and other risks related to P2D’s activities.
Contact
Renee
O’ConnorDirector,
Corporate Informaticsrmoconnor@p2dinc.comwww.p2dinc.com