Prana completes enrolment in phase IIa trial of PBT2 in Alzheimer's disease patients

Prana Biotechnology Limited today announced it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase IIa clinical trial of PBT2 in patients with early Alzheimer's disease.

This Phase IIa trial is a double blind, placebo-controlled study exploring the safety and tolerability of PBT2, Prana’s proprietary lead compound, and its effects on the mechanism and progression of the disease by investigating biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease as well as measures of cognition. Prana will complete dosing of the last patient by the end of 2007, and is on track to deliver results in the first quarter of 2008.

“The successful completion of patient enrollment in this clinical trial represents an important milestone in the development of PBT2, particularly with the recruitment of patients now closed and a clear time line for the release of results,” commented Prana Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Geoffrey Kempler.

“We are very excited to know that we will soon be able to look at meaningful data regarding the safety of our lead compound, as well as the impact on disease biomarkers and cognition. PBT2 is the first lead compound to be selected from our proprietary drug library of Metal Protein Attenuating Compounds (MPAC's), which have a unique mechanism of action that may be useful against a range of neurodegenerative conditions. Should this trial prove successful, then many different avenues may be available for MPAC's to be tested in other debilitating conditions,” continued Mr. Kempler.