D-Pharm starts Phase 2 Clinical Study with DP-b99 in Acute High-Risk Pancreatitis Patients

REHOVOT, Israel, November 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

D-Pharm Ltd (TASE:DPRM) announced today November 21^st 2013, receipt of approval from the regulatory authorities in Slovakia to commence a Phase 2 clinical study to explore the utility of DP-b99 in patients with acute high-risk inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

The planned study in patients with acute pancreatitis is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.  Thirty patients will be treated twice daily for 2 days, with either DP-b99 or placebo and followed up using clinical assessment scales, by monitoring inflammatory biomarkers and with abdominal imaging.

Preclinical and clinical studies indicate a favorable safety profile of the drug. So far, DP-b99 been safely administered to 456 patients and healthy volunteers.  

Dr. Alex Kozak, D-Pharm's CEO and founder commented: "I am thrilled by the progress of D-Pharm's clinical programs. This is already the third clinical protocol approved for our products in 2013. Current development of DP-b99 for pancreatitis will capitalize on the extensive DP-b99 database accepted in the past by the FDA and EMA for testing the drug in acute ischemic stroke patients. This is a great opportunity. Our belief in this home grown product to help seriously ill patients remains unshaken. We're delighted that DP-b99 is, once again, being tested in patients and we eagerly await the outcome of this study."

DP-b99 interferes with several fundamental pathological processes, relevant for a wide range of conditions, via modulation of a range of metal dependent enzymes involved in the cell death cascade and inflammation. DP-b99 is a first-in-class drug addressing multiple mechanisms of cell damage and thus provides a comprehensive approach to protection of insulted cells. Results from studies in in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatitis suggest that DP-b99 can suppress some severe detrimental processes associated with the disease.

Acute pancreatitis necessitates hospitalization in an intensive care unit and in severe cases mortality may reach 20%. In the US there are around 20 cases of acute pancreatitis per year per 100,000 of population and survivors frequently suffer long term disability. There is no effective specific treatment for acute severe pancreatitis.

About D-Pharm

D-Pharm (http://www.dpharm.com) is a clinical stage, technology-driven biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary products for treatment of CNS disorders. D-Pharm's pipeline includes clinical Phase 2 products, as well as a rich preclinical development pipeline for Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia. D-Pharm's current clinical programs include DP-b99 for acute severe pancreatitis, THR-18 for acute stroke patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and DP-VPA for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Disclaimer

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information, as defined in the Securities Law, based on information available to D-Pharm at the time of this press release. The estimations could, some or all, be unrealized, or could be realized in significantly different ways than expected.

For further information please contact:

Tami Horovitz
Tel: +972-8-9385100
Fax: +972-8-9300795
Email: thorovitz@dpharm.com