Allon starts another trial of neuroprotective drug davunetide
This article was originally published in Pharmaceutical Approvals Monthly
Executive Summary
Patient enrollment has started in an additional clinical trial for Allon's lead neuroprotective agent davunetide, the firm announced Jan. 28, with the aim of broadening the demonstrated safety range and pharmacokinetic profile. Davunetide, which has been considered a top licensing opportunity in the neuroscience field, is slated to begin Phase II later in 2010 for frontotemporal dementias, "a group of rapidly progressive and fatal degenerative brain diseases often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease," the company explains. FDA has granted orphan status for treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy, a type of FTD. Allon has already demonstrated efficacy and "an excellent safety profile" in Phase II trials in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, and in patients with cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia