Parkinson’s: Solvay Pharmaceuticals moves SLV 308 compound into phase III clinical development
SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS announces today it has advanced its R&D project known under code name SLV308 into a full phase III development program. SLV308 is an oral therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease that combines dopamine activity with serotonin and noradrenaline mood enhancing effects. Registration submissions are intended for 2007, with availability to physicians and patients from 2008.
Claus Steinborn, PhD & MD, Global R&D Head for Solvay Pharmaceuticals, said: “SLV308 is a really interesting compound from our own drug discovery pipeline with a new clinical profile and is expected to have important advantages in the management of patients with Parkinson’s Disease. We have decided now to start full development for this compound after having encouraging results from our phase II clinical program. Doctors and their patients are eager for new and better therapies for Parkinson’s Disease and we intend to help them just as soon as we can.”
This SLV308 announcement follows on the heels of SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS successful acquisition of NEOPHARMA and its Parkinson’s medication DUODOPA® (press release 21 January 2005). DUODOPA® is intended for people suffering from late stage Parkinson’s Disease, while SLV308 is for the less advanced stages. Together the two products are expected to fit well alongside each other.
Parkinson’s Disease is an important neurological disorder which has progressively debilitating motion disturbances as a major consequence. Of all the neurodegenerative disorders it is second to Alzheimer’s Disease in numbers of cases. To help patients retain control of body movements is an important goal giving them better ability to function and remain active.
SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS is the pharmaceuticals entity in SOLVAY. It is a research driven pharmaceutical company that seeks to fulfill carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, gastroenterology, mental health and gynecology/andrology. SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS employs more than 7500 people worldwide. SOLVAY is an international chemicals and pharmaceuticals group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more than 30000 people in 50 countries. In 2003 consolidated sales amounted to EUR 7.6 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals.
SOLVAY is listed on the Euronext 100 index of top European companies. Details are available at www.solvay.com.
Note to the editors:
Dr. Claus Steinborn, a German biochemistry and medical doctor has been appointed Global Head of R&D in Solvay Pharmaceuticals with effect from January 2005.
A graduate of Hanover University and Medical School, he joined Solvay in 1991 as head of gastrointestinal clinical research. After working closely with Dr Werner Cautreels, the previous head of R&D, he succeeds Dr Cautreels who is now Solvay Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals Global R&D employs some 1000 people, principally in three larger centers in Hanover in Germany, Weesp in The Netherlands and Marietta in the United States. Projects targeting areas
of major clinical need are running in gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, men’s and women’s health and influenza. The R&D expenditure tops 15% of turnover and additional investments come from third parties under a variety of partnership, alliance and other arrangements.