LONDON, UK I July 12, 2013 I Vernalis plc today announces that it has dosed the first subjects in a Phase Ib/II proof-of-concept (PoC) study of V81444, an A2A antagonist which has potential applications for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).

The randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of V81444 after twice daily administration for 14 days in 24 subjects. As the study is being conducted in subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of one of the potential indications, the aim is also to provide initial proof-of-concept for use of V81444 as a potential treatment for this CNS indication. The trial is being conducted at a single US site under an approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application.

About Vernalis

Vernalis is a revenue generating development stage pharmaceutical company with significant expertise in drug development. The Group has one marketed product, frovatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine, an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialise multiple novel products focussed on the US prescription cough/cold market as well as seven programmes in its NCE development pipeline. Vernalis has significant expertise in fragment and structure based drug discoverywhich it leverages to enter into collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies. The Company’s technologies, capabilities and products are endorsed by collaborations with Endo, Genentech, Lundbeck, Menarini, Novartis, Servier and Tris.

SOURCE: Vernalis