BELLUS HEALTH reports results for first quarter of f...()) forthe treatment of AD BELLUS Health ...),Health

Date:5/5/2008

)) for the treatment of AD, BELLUS Health will prioritize and accelerate the development of a prodrug of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)), a new chemical entity (NCE), for the treatment of AD. A prodrug is a pharmaceutical substance which is administered in an inactive form and, once absorbed into the body, is metabolized in vivo into its active form (in this case, tramiprosate).

The Company is also developing NC-503 for the treatment of Type II diabetes and certain features of metabolic syndrome. A Phase II clinical trial in diabetic patients was launched in Canada and patient randomization commenced in early May. The study is a 26-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Interim results are anticipated in late 2008 or early 2009. Results from animal models using a validated rat model of diabetes and certain features of metabolic syndrome have shown that NC-503 protects the kidney and decreases the glycemic levels in obese diabetic Zucker rats, when compared to the control group. Treatment with NC-503 correlated with the preservation of approximately 40% more cells secreting insulin than in the control group.

In light of some encouraging results from preliminary post-hoc analysis of the data from the North American Phase III trial for tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) which suggest an effect of homotaurine in protecting memory function and given that homotaurine occurs naturally in certain algae, BELLUS Health is taking steps to commercialize homotaurine as a branded natural health product under the trade name VIVIMIND(TM), through a wholly-owned nutraceutical subsidiary, OVOS Natural Health Inc. The launch activities of VIVIMIND(TM) are in preparation and the product should be available by the end of the year. The Company's strategy aims to provide revenue generation in the short to medium term through sale of natural health products and mid to long-term development of a pipeline in pharmaceuticals.

Research tax credits and grants amount
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SOURCE BELLUS Health Inc. Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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