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December 5, 2000
Neurochem announces the achievement of an important drug development milestone for
Alzheimer's Disease
Neurochem Inc. (TSX : NRM) announced today the achievement of an important drug development
milestone for the advancement of an anti-amyloid drug candidate, for the treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease. In accordance with the ongoing collaborative agreement with
H. Lundbeck A/S ("Lundbeck"), the achievement of this milestone triggers
a number of milestone and research support payments from Lundbeck including an equity
purchase of US $ 2.5 million.
"We are delighted with our agreement with Neurochem, a company that is very active
within the area of amyloid research. In the year of our partnership Neurochem has made
significant progress in its development of a novel treatment for a neurological disease,
making this collaboration an excellent opportunity to help patients afflicted by
Alzheimer's Disease," remarked Executive Vice-President R&D of Lundbeck Dr.
Claus Braestrup. "We look forward to working closely with Neurochem in the years
to come."
In a "proof-of-concept" study, Neurochem's drug candidate was administered in
genetically-engineered mice expressing the human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) to determine
the curative potential of this drug candidate. The mice were developed at the Centre for
Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of Toronto (Canada). Using this
aggressive hAPP transgenic model of Alzheimer's Disease, a compound was shown to
significantly reduce the number and size of brain amyloid plaques , to decrease the
inflammatory reaction in the brain and to maintain a higher survival rate in treated mice.
Neurochem anticipates submitting shortly the scientific findings for publication in a
peer-reviewed journal.
A preliminary phase I single dose study with the compound in human volunteers has already
provided information re. tolerability and pharmacokinetics. Further, the compound has
demonstrated a good safety and pharmacokinetic profile in preclinical studies. The
Company believes that this is the first time an oral drug candidate with a documented low
toxicity potential has been shown to reduce the development of amyloid plaque and
inflammatory reactions in an animal model of Alzheimer's Disease.
"These findings represent a very important step towards the further development of
the compound as a therapeutic treatment in Alzheimer's Disease. This milestone payment
will further support the important drug development activities required to advance this
promising treatment of brain amyloidosis," said Dr. Louis R. Lamontagne, President and
CEO of Neurochem. "Lundbeck's expertise in the development of therapeutic treatments
for major diseases of the central nervous system will be instrumental to the on-going
scientific and drug development activities for this novel class of potential
therapeutic drugs."
About Lundbeck
H. Lundbeck A/S is an international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research and
development, production, marketing and sale of drugs for the treatment of psychiatric and
neurological diseases. The Company had consolidated net turnover of DKK 4.2 billion in
1999 and employs approximately 3200 people. Further information is available at
www.lundbeck.com
The Lundbeck group is headquartered at Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Tel. +45 3630 1311.
About Neurochem
Neurochem is a leader in the development of novel, proprietary compounds that inhibit
the formation, deposition and toxic effects of amyloid fibrils within the body.
Neurochem's research team has been working with international amyloid experts on the
development of therapeutic cures to amyloid-related diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease,
Secondary Amyloidosis, Diabetes Type II and Hemorrhagic Stroke due to Cerebral Amyloid
Angiopathy. Neurochem has advanced three drug candidates to clinical trials for Alzheimer's
Disease, Secondary Amyloidosis and Hemorrhagic Stroke.
At present, the Company employs over 60 people and is located in Saint-Laurent, Canada
(www.neurochem.com).
All of the statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact which
are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking statements. Such
statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve
numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown. Some examples of known risks are: the
impact of general economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes
in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which Neurochem does business, stock
market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to
consolidation or otherwise. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from
the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501
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