Allon Therapeutics Inc. announced preclinical data demonstrating the potential of AL-309, the Company’s early-stage drug candidate. AL-309 is being investigated as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating and painful disorder of the peripheral nervous system afflicting millions of people for which there is no effective treatment.
Bruce Morimoto, Ph.D., Allon’s vice president of drug development, said the preclinical data has shown AL-309 to be effective at reducing nerve damage and pain in animal models for peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes and cancer chemotherapy, two of the most common causes of the disease.
Dr. Morimoto presented the data at the AsiaTIDES Oligonucleotide and Peptide Technology and Product Development Conference in Tokyo, Japan. AsiaTIDES focuses on technology and product development, manufacturing and partnering in the fields of oligonucleotide and peptide-based therapeutics and diagnostics.
“Our preclinical studies have shown that AL-309 not only reduced the pain symptoms associated with neuropathy, but also decreased nerve damage,” said Morimoto. “Furthermore, the characteristics of AL-309 allow it to be developed for multiple routes of administration based on bioavailability studies using oral, intranasal, or subcutaneous application.”
“This demonstrated bioavailability for the three dosing routes provides flexibility for development and allows us to choose the most commercially attractive one. The commercial potential for AL-309 is underscored by the fact that drug sales in the U.S. and Europe amount to approximately $4 billion a year to treat neuropathic pain, yet these approved drugs are only moderately effective and have virtually no impact on the nerve damage that causes the pain,” said Morimoto.
Date: February 23, 2010
Source: Allon Therapeutics Inc.
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
