LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SIBI) today announced the initiation of a second Phase 2 study of
their subtype-selective nicotinic agonist, SIB-1508Y, for Parkinson's disease.
This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, crossover study
measuring safety, tolerability and efficacy of SIB-1508Y in mid-to-late-stage
Parkinson's patients who will also receive half their usual dose of L-DOPA.
    In SIBIA's initial Phase 2 study, which is still ongoing, SIB-1508Y is
being tested as a monotherapy in early stage Parkinson's patients who have
never received other drug therapy for their illness.  Both Phase 2 studies are
aimed at assessing the ability of SIB-1508Y to treat the cognitive as well as
motor deficits of Parkinson's patients.
    Jeffrey McKelvy, Ph.D., SIBIA's Chief Scientific Officer, stated, "In this
second study, we will test the use of SIB-1508Y in patients with later stages
of Parkinson's disease, and therefore, better understand the broad potential
of SIB-1508Y in Parkinson's disease management.  Because we have seen
synergistic effects of SIB-1508Y and L-DOPA in primate models, we hope that
its use with L-DOPA will permit reduced exposure to L-DOPA.  We are also
optimistic that our continuing clinical studies will show that SIB-1508Y can
stop the progression of Parkinson's disease, reflecting recently reported
neuroprotection effects of SIB-1508Y in animal models."
    SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc. is engaged in the discovery and development of
novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative,
neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, many of which have large patient
populations and represent critical unmet medical needs.  SIBIA is a leader in
the development of proprietary drug discovery platforms that combine key tools
necessary for modern drug discovery, including genomics, high throughput
screening, advanced combinatorial chemistry techniques and pharmacology.  The
Company's proprietary molecular targets and drug candidates, together with its
drug discovery technologies and research expertise, have enabled the Company
to establish several corporate collaborations, which currently include
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., and multiple
technology licensing arrangements.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially from those
discussed herein.  These risks and uncertainties include whether SIBIA will be
able to meet its development goals with respect to its drug candidates,
whether SIBIA's clinical trials will yield favorable results, the new and
uncertain state of SIBIA's technologies, SIBIA's future capital needs and the
uncertainty of receiving additional funding, uncertainties regarding patents
and proprietary rights, and other research, development and market risks.
These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully set forth in SIBIA's
most recently filed Forms 10-Q and 10-K.

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