Survival Data for Avicena's Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Drug Candidate, AL-02, to be Presented at 18th International Symposium ...( PALO ALTO Calif. Oct. 18 /- Avice...),Health

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avicena Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AVGO), a late-stage biotechnology company that develops central nervous system therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that data related to the Company's Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) drug candidate, AL-02, will be presented at the 18th International Symposium on ALS/MND which will be held on December 1-3, 2007, in Toronto, Canada. The poster presentation by Allitia DiBernardo, M.D. of Massachusetts General Hospital will discuss a pooled analysis of survival data from three randomized, placebo-controlled studies. Results suggest a trend towards increased survival in patients taking AL-02.

The combined analysis examined three trials and included a total of 386 patients. The three trials were conducted by the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS), Carolinas Medical Center and Utrecht University. The pooled analysis showed an increase of 1.47-fold in median survival compared to results in patients taking a placebo. Certain portions of these data were presented to the FDA and formed the basis for Avicena's intent to initiate a confirmatory Phase III trial in 2008. This study will evaluate AL-02's effect on the primary endpoint of median survival and secondary endpoints of ALS functional scores.

"These data points support AL-02's positive effect on the survival rate of ALS patients," stated Belinda Tsao-Nivaggioli, Chairman and C.E.O. of Avicena. "We are very encouraged by these results and we will continue to advance AL-02 towards commercialization, as well as our drug candidates for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. AL-02 will be the Company's third late-stage drug candidate."

ABOUT ALS

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for voluntary muscle movement. As these motor neurons degenerate, their ability to send impulses to the muscle fibers is c
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