FORT LEE, NJ (June 21, 2007) -- Neurologix, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NRGX) today announced the publication in the June 23 issue of the journal The Lancet of positive results from the first ever gene therapy trial for Parkinsons disease and the first report of direct gene transfer into a patients own brain cells for any adult neurodegenerative disease.
The open label Phase 1 study, conducted in 12 patients with advanced Parkinsons disease demonstrated both a lack of adverse events related to the gene therapy procedure and statistically significant improvements from baseline in both clinical symptoms and abnormal brain metabolism (as measured by positron emission tomography, or PET scanning). Although all patients had symptoms on both sides of the body, the procedure was performed on only one side of the brain, enabling the untreated side to serve as a study control. The reported improvements were observed primarily on the treated side of the body beginning three months after the gene therapy procedure and persisted through the 12 months formal study period.
Neurologix sponsored the study as part of its ongoing efforts to develop this and other gene therapy approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. Principal investigators Michael G. Kaplitt, MD, PhD, and Matthew J. During, MD, PhD, performed the procedures at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Andrew Feigin, MD and David Eidelberg, MD of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System performed the clinical evaluations and the PET scans. Neurologix scientists were also co-investigators in the study.
This ground-breaking study represents not only an encouraging first step in the development of a promising new approach to Parkinsons disease therapy, but also provides a platform to translate a variety of new gene therapy agents into human clinical trials for many devastating brain disorder
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Contact: Joan Kureczka
JKureczka@comcast.net
415-821-2413
Kureczka/Martin Associates
21-Jun-2007