AEterna Zentaris to Present First In Vivo Data on Ghrelin Antagonists' Capacity of Selectively Inhibiting Food Intake
October 19 2006 - 8:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Data further supports the use of ghrelin antagonists as a potential
obesity treatment QUEBEC CITY, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; NASDAQ: AEZS) today announced that
Dr. Daniel Perrissoud, Head of Project Management for the Company,
will give a presentation entitled "Novel ghrelin receptor ligands
inhibit food intake without altering growth hormone secretion in
rats" which will outline the capacity of ghrelin antagonists'
ability to inhibit appetite without affecting growth hormone (GH)
secretion. The data to be presented represents a first evidence
that ghrelin antagonist compounds can selectively inhibit food
intake. It also further supports the hope that ghrelin antagonist
compounds have the potential to be useful for the treatment of
obesity. The presentation will take place on Sunday, October 22,
2006, between 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (local time) at the International
Conference Center of Athens, Greece, during the 12th meeting of the
European NeuroEndocrine Association. "Obesity represents a large
and ever increasing market worldwide in great need of safe and
novel treatments", said Dr. Jurgen Engel, Executive Vice President,
Global R&D and Chief Operating Officer at AEterna Zentaris. "We
are pleased to have multiple, ongoing research projects on our
ghrelin antagonists in collaboration with renowned researchers in
Montpelier, Milan, Montreal and Quebec City. These efforts are part
of our commitment to build a portfolio of innovative and novel
products as we continue to establish solid endocrinology and
oncology franchises." This first public disclosure of results from
AEterna Zentaris' program on ghrelin antagonists will be focused on
the in vivo effects of two lead compounds resulting from the
synthesis and screening of more than 250 new chemical entities by
the Laboratory of Aminoacids, Peptides and Proteins of the
University of Montpellier, France, directed by Prof. Jean Martinez,
and the Department of Experimental and Environmental Medicine of
the University of Milan, Italy, directed by Prof. Vittorio
Locatelli. These two non-peptidic compounds were characterized in
vitro as ghrelin receptor ligands and they were able to inhibit the
food intake of rats at doses which did not modify the secretion of
growth hormone. For a specific anti-obesity use, a ghrelin
antagonist should counteract the orexigenic effects of ghrelin but
not the growth hormone secretagogue effect, since growth hormone
deficiency is frequently associated with increased adiposity. About
Ghrelin and Ghrelin Antagonists Ghrelin is a natural peptide
hormone produced by the stomach that increases appetite and induces
accumulation of fat tissue. The recent discovery of ghrelin and its
receptors opens up new opportunities for the treatment of obesity
and eating disorders through the use of ghrelin antagonists to
suppress appetite. About the Obesity Market There is no safe and
effective appetite suppressant currently on the market. It is
estimated that between 34 million to 61 million Americans are
obese, and the worldwide incidence of obesity is increasing by an
estimated 1% per year. The global obesity market is expected to
reach US$3.7 billion by 2008, with annual growth of 21.1%. About
AEterna Zentaris Inc. AEterna Zentaris Inc. is a growing global
biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and
oncology, with proven expertise in drug discovery, development and
commercialization. News releases and additional information are
available at http://www.aeternazentaris.com/. Forward-Looking
Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include,
among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue
R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical
studies, the ability of the Company to take advantage of business
opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related
to the regulatory process and general changes in economic
conditions. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and
annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions
for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to
the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely
on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake
to update these forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: AETERNA
ZENTARIS INC. CONTACT: Media Relations: Paul Burroughs, (418)
652-8525, ext. 406, ; Investor Relations: Jenene Thomas, (418)
655-6420, (908) 996-3154,
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