Neurobiological Technologies, Inc. Presents Dosing Rationale for Viprinex(TM) (ancrod) at the European Stroke ...( NICE France May 14 /- Neurobiolog...),Health

NICE, France, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Neurobiological Technologies, Inc. (NTI(R)) (Nasdaq: NTII) reported for the first time at the European Stroke Conference detailed analyses supporting the dosing regimen in NTI's two ongoing Phase 3 studies of Viprinex(TM) (ancrod) for ischemic stroke. The company also provided information as to why it believes these studies are more likely to be successful in treating ischemic stroke than previous Phase 3 clinical trials conducted by others using the same snake venom-derived agent.

David E. Levy, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development at NTI, presented his retrospective analysis of data from the prior North American and European Phase 3 stroke trials of Viprinex involving more than 1,700 patients. Viprinex has been shown to rapidly reduce blood levels of fibrinogen, an important agent involved in blood clotting and blood viscosity. Elevated fibrinogen levels are a risk factor for stroke and may be associated with greater stroke disability. Prior studies with Viprinex that target fibrinogen have shown a benefit from this approach.

"The prior studies of Viprinex showed improved efficacy, but used a dosing regimen that infused the drug over five to seven days, which kept fibrinogen levels low for too long, compromising safety," said Dr. Levy, the key presenter. "NTI has changed the treatment paradigm to a single, three-hour intravenous dose designed to reduce fibrinogen levels quickly, while avoiding the prolonged low fibrinogen levels that were tried previously. Stopping the infusion after three hours permits fibrinogen to return to normal levels much faster than when the drug is given over five to seven days."

Dosing in the successful North American Phase 3 trial was c
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