Suven completes Phase I study of Alzheimer’s drug

Suven Life Sciences, an Indian drug discovery and development company, has completed its Phase I multiple ascending dose study of SUVN-502 in healthy volunteers.

SUVN-502 is reported to be a potent, safe, highly selective, brain penetrant and orally active antagonist at a nonperipheral CNS receptor site 5-HT6, intended for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and other disorders of memory and cognition like attention deficient hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson’s disease.

According to Suven, the tolerability of SUVN-502 up to the highest dose administered was excellent. No serious adverse events occurred and no clinically significant changes or study medication related abnormalities were observed with respect to ECGs and laboratory evaluations. There were no clinically significant changes of vital sign parameters.

A patent has been granted to SUVN-502 in several countries around the globe with validity until 2023. Suven is in discussions with eight potential licensing partners for this compound. Timing of the licensing would depend on the deal terms and ability to move the molecule to next level of clinical studies, the company said.

In a parallel process Suven is gearing up its resources and working out the plans to initiate the proof-of-concept studies (Phase IIa) during the last quarter of 2009. The company anticipates that SUVN-502 can be launched in the major regulated markets by 2013.

Venkat Jasti, CEO of Suven Life Sciences, said: We are extremely glad with the outcome of the Phase-I trials of SUVN-502. This is a significant development for our organization as this molecule is our first invention and has a potential to be first-in-class and best in class for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders of memory like schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and attention deficient hyperactivity disorder etc.