Scientists Receive Pfizer Research Award for Work on Stroke Treatment

Newswise — "We are very proud of this award, which distinguishes seven years of intensive work that led to the development of a novel peptide, XG-102," said Dr Christophe Bonny. "This drug's strong neuroprotective effect coupled with a therapeutic window of 6 hours could make an effective treatment of stroke possible for the first time ever. Stroke is a major debilitating disease for which there is currently no treatment available."

According to Dr Didier Coquoz, Chief Executive Officer of Xigen S.A., the Pfizer Research Award represents an important recognition of the company's strong scientific foundations. "The award is very encouraging for our plans to begin clinical trials with XG-102 in the second half of this year. We are fully dedicated to developing a truly effective treatment for stroke, which unfortunately every year leaves hundreds of thousands of people world-wide with major handicaps for the rest of their life."

About XigenXigen is a Swiss biotechnology spin-off of the University of Lausanne that has discovered and develops proprietary intracellular therapeutics. Its unique technology is based on proprietary conjugates that readily penetrate and act within cells. Clinical development of Xigen's lead compound, XG-102, will begin in 2005 for the treatment of stroke and myocardial infarction. Xigen's second generation of compounds targets the treatment of cancer. The company is currently funded by private investors as well as venture funds.

XG-102 is a neuroprotectant acting by intracellular-inhibition of JNK kinase. It is the result of 7 years of intensive research and has shown striking efficacy in animal models of stroke [Nature Medicine 2003; 9(9): 1180, Stroke 2004; 35(7): 1738-43]. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in major industrialized countries. The overall incidence of stroke in the USA and Europe is 2 million patients, with incidental risk increasing with age. 20% of stroke patients do not survive longer than 1 month, and a third of survivors after 6 months remain dependent on others. There are currently no neuroprotectants on the market for the treatment of stroke.