Marvel Biosciences Lead Drug Candidate MB-204 Demonstrated Superior Anti-Anxiety Activity over FDA-Approved Istradefylline in Head-To-Head Pre-Clinical Studies

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[{"type":"text","content":"Marvel Biosciences Lead Drug Candidate MB-204 Demonstrated Superior Anti-Anxiety Activity over FDA-Approved Istradefylline in Head-To-Head Pre-Clinical StudiesCalgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 14, 2022) - Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV: MRVL) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marvel Biotechnology Inc. (collectively the \"Company\" or \"Marvel\"), is pleased to announce that in a pre-clinical test for anxiety, its lead drug candidate MB-204, a fluorinated derivative of Istradefylline, out-performed Istradefylline in a head-to-head pre-clinical and in depressive and anti-anxiety studies. Istradefylline is the only US FDA approved A2a receptor antagonist currently approved to treat Parkinson's disease.\"This head-to-head study suggests MB-204 has a superior anti-anxiety activity compared to its parental molecule Istradefylline,\" said Dr Mark Williams, Chief Science Officer of Marvel Biosciences. \"What was particularly interesting is that the mice treated with MB-204 had more social interactions than mice treated with Istradefylline. Social isolation can compound depression and anxiety, so this is an intriguing finding for MB-204.\"\"Depression and anxiety can be debilitating and it continues to be a growing problem among many age groups,\" said Rod Matheson CEO of Marvel Biosciences. \"With rates of up to one in eight adults taking an anti-depressive*, and the recent revisiting of the serotonin hypothesis of depression, the need for novel anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications is greater than ever. We are on track to enter Phase I FDA human trials as early as the first quarter of next year and hope to advance our unique lead candidate MB-204 through the FDA approval process as quickly as possible to help alleviate patients' suffering from these conditions with a new mechanism of action.\" Using the well-established elevated plus maze pre-clinical model for anxiety, and the same doses of MB-204 as compared to Istradefylline (7.5 mg/kg) resulted in:Longer times spent in the open arms, especially in the first minute, which indicates a larger anti-anxiety effect Engaged in more risky behaviour than Istradefylline, as measured by head dipping behaviours again suggesting less anxiety Did not trigger excessive locomotive activity whereas Istradefylline did promote excessive locomotive activityPromoted ultrasonic vocaliz...

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