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Ph II Cataract Trial Starts
Ph II Cataract Trial Starts.
About this update from Nanoco Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n Evolutec Group PLC\n20 June 2006\n\n\nFor immediate release 20 June 2006\n\n\n\n EVOLUTEC GROUP PLC\n\n ('Evolutec' or 'the Company')\n\n\n\n COMMENCEMENT OF PHASE II TRIAL IN THE TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION FOLLOWING\n CATARACT SURGERY\n\n\n\nEvolutec Group plc (AIM: EVC), the biopharmaceutical company developing novel\nproducts for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, is\npleased to announce the commencement of a 150 patient proof of concept Phase II\ntrial with its lead compound, rEV131, against inflammation following cataract\nsurgery. The trial will compare the anti-inflammatory effects of rEV131 versus\nprednisolone, the current standard of care, and placebo in post-operative\ninflammation of the anterior segment of the eye.\n\n\n\nThis randomised double-blind trial is being co-ordinated by Ophthalmic Research\nAssociates ('ORA'), Boston, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Dr Mark B.\nAbelson, MD. The trial will take place at 10 ophthalmic surgical centres across\nthe US. This trial follows a successful preclinical study showing rEV131 to be\nas effective as prednisolone 1.0%, a corticosteroid.\n\n\n\nrEV131, dosed twice a day, will be compared with prednisolone, dosed four times\na day over a two week period. The primary endpoints of the trial are flare and\ncell counts, which are accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration ('FDA')\nfor measuring inflammation in the anterior chamber of the eye.\n\n\n\nThe Company believes the value of the post-cataract surgery inflammation market\nto be approximately $500 million.\n\n\n\nMark Carnegie Brown, Evolutec's Chief Executive Officer, commented: 'The start\nof this trial follows the commencement of a 300 patient Phase IIb trial of\nrEV131 in allergic rhinitis (hay fever) as announced earlier this month. This\nadded momentum represents a step change in Evolutec's news flow with both trial\nresults anticipated by the end of 2006.'\n\n\n\n ENDS\n\nFor further information:\nEvolutec 0118 922 4480\nMark Carnegie Brown, Chief Executive Officer\nNicholas Badman, Chief Financial Officer\nwww.evolutec.co.uk\n\nBuchanan Communications 020 7466 5000\nMark Court/Tim Anderson/Mary-Jane Johnson\n\nNotes for Editors:\n\nAbout Evolutec\n\nEvolutec, which is based in Reading, UK, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical\ncompany with a focus on allergy, inflammat...