Breakthrough in research for multiple sclerosis (MS)

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Breakthrough in research for multiple sclerosis (MS)

28 Oct 2004

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Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced results of preclinical studies

demonstrating that a new class of compounds, orally available

non-antibacterial tetracyclines, has shown promising activity in a

preclinical animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Affecting

approximately two million people worldwide, MS is a chronic,

inflammatory condition of the nervous system and the most common,

non-traumatic, neurological disease in young adults. Dr. McKenney,

a Paratek scientist, will present the findings during an oral

presentation at 2:30 p.m. PST (5:30 p.m. EST) today at Neuroscience

2004, the Society for Neuroscience's 34th Annual Meeting in San Diego.

For the first time, Paratek is presenting data showing that its

non-antibacterial tetracycline compounds in a preclinical model of MS

have efficacy comparable to minocycline, an antibiotic also in the

tetracycline family. A previous clinical study directed by Dr. Luanne

Metz at the University of Calgary has demonstrated disease protection in

MS patients treated with minocycline. Unfortunately, long-term treatment

with minocycline or any other broad-spectrum antibiotics causes many

patients to experience intolerability related to antibiotic side

effects. In today's presentation, Paratek will report that three

non-antibacterial tetracycline compounds, with different structures,

demonstrated activity in reducing limb paralysis in the preclinical EAE

(Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis) model of MS. These compounds

have no detectable antibacterial activity.

Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Serono (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA)

announced today that they have entered into an agreement to discover,

develop and commercialize an orally-available disease modifying

treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The agreement covers the

compounds for which Dr. McKenney presents data today.

Stuart Levy, Paratek's Vice Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and

Co-Founder, commented, " The clinical research community has long

regarded a pill for MS as an ultimate goal, but so far attempts to

develop a safe, feasible, orally available drug candidate have failed.

Our team has successfully modified the tetracycline molecule, keeping

the core structure that confers anti-MS activity while removing portions

of the molecule with antibacterial effects. This represents an exciting

advance not only for MS, but potentially for many other

inflammation-related disease areas. "

Dr. Draper, Associate Director at Paratek, stated, " Paratek has

developed world-class expertise in modifying the tetracycline class,

which has a 30-year track record in the marketplace and a favorable,

well-documented safety profile. This new, proprietary class of

non-antibacterial tetracycline compounds will avoid the negative

consequences associated with long-term antibiotic use and will not

further contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. We

believe that these highly active, orally available compounds will also

prove to be well-tolerated for MS, and we are very proud of this

accomplishment. "

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the nervous

system and is the most common non-traumatic neurological disease in

young adults. Multiple sclerosis may affect approximately two million

people worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of

multiple sclerosis include blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the

limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms

of multiple sclerosis are the most common.

About Paratek Pharmaceuticals

Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is engaged in the discovery and

commercialization of new therapeutics that treat serious and

life-threatening diseases, with a particular focus on the growing

worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance. Paratek's lead programs are

advancing novel compounds that can circumvent or block bacterial

resistance, as well as drugs that can prevent infection by interfering

with Multiple Adaptational Response (MAR) mechanisms in bacteria. Out of

these efforts, Paratek has discovered a new class of antibiotics, the

aminomethylcyclines that target the need for new and potent

antibacterials to overcome the problem of rapidly growing bacterial

resistance. The Company's lead antibiotic clinical candidate, BAY

73-7388, the first product from this class, is being developed in a

collaborative partnership with Bayer HealthCare AG for the treatment of

serious infections.

Outside the antibacterial therapeutic area, Paratek has also established

an internal effort to exploit its novel families of compounds and their

unique mechanism of action in selected anti-inflammatory and

neurodegenerative conditions. Paratek has an active chemical synthesis

effort to produce novel and diverse small molecules, with the goal of

developing non-antibacterial products with improved activity in serious

diseases based upon a growing body of clinical and basic research

supporting this approach.

Paratek is privately held and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts,

USA. For more information, visit Paratek's website at

http://www.paratekpharm.com.

Contact: Compa

kcompa@...

212-213-0006

Burns McClellan

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