Palatin Technologies, Inc. Reports Positive Results of Phase 2a Clinical Study with PL-3994 for the Treatment of Hea...( CRANBURY N.J. Aug. 14 /- Palatin ...)

CRANBURY, N.J., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (Amex: PTN) announced today the completion of a Phase 2a clinical trial of PL-3994, a novel, long-acting natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) agonist under development for treatment of heart failure (HF). The Phase 2a trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study in 21 volunteers with controlled hypertension who received the medication or placebo subcutaneously. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate that PL-3994 can be given safely to patients taking antihypertensive medications commonly administered to heart failure and hypertension patients. The evaluations included safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and several pharmacodynamic endpoints, including levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a natural messenger nucleotide.

Dosing concluded with the successful achievement of the primary endpoint of the study, a pre-specified reduction in systemic blood pressure. No volunteer experienced a serious or severe adverse event. Elevations in plasma cGMP levels were all observed for several hours after single subcutaneous doses. Additional data analysis is ongoing and will be submitted for presentation when the analysis is complete.

"We are excited to confirm that PL-3994 can be given safely to patients who are taking blood pressure medications," stated Dr. Trevor Hallam, Palatin's Executive Vice President for Research and Development. "As we proceed with an additional Phase 2 study later this year, we will focus on the heart failure patients most in need of new therapies."

The previously announced Phase 1 study demonstrated that PL-3994 can be given safely and leads to a dose-related decrease i
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