Data on Avicena's Drug Candidate HD-02 Presented at the 2007 World Congress on Huntington...( PALO ALTO Calif. Nov. 19 /- Avice...),Health

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avicena Group, Inc. (OTCBB: AVGO), a late-stage biotechnology company that develops central nervous system therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Drs. Steven Hersch and Diana Rosas presented results regarding the Company's novel Huntington's disease treatment candidate HD-02 at the 2007 World Congress on Huntington's Disease in Dresden, Germany.

Drs. Hersch and Rosas, of Massachusetts General Hospital, led the open- label, dose escalation study, which evaluated daily administration of HD-02 in doses ranging from 10 to 40 grams. Results of the study showed that a 30-gram dose provided the optimal levels of efficacy, safety, and tolerability. The researchers also observed a slower cognitive decline and a sustained reduction in brain atrophy at the 30-gram dose level. These findings demonstrate the disease-modifying potential of HD-02 and provided the rationale for a Phase III study to further evaluate its efficacy at the 30-gram dose.

Based on these findings, Dr. Hersch and the Huntington Study Group have designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial to evaluate the 30-gram dose and its ability to slow functional decline. The trial will be sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Enrollment is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2008.

"We are excited about the results of this HD-02 study in Huntington's disease and are pleased to have identified the optimal dose for further evaluation in next-year's Phase III trial," stated Belinda Tsao Nivaggioli, CEO and Chairman of Avicena. "We are also pleased to further strengthen our relationship with the NIH via their sponsorship of this trial and look forward to working with the NCCAM within this organization to advance HD-02."

ABOUT HD-02

HD-02 is a novel drug candidate for the treatment of Hunti
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