AEterna Zentaris: New Data Published on its Ghrelin Antagonist Compound, AEZS-123 (JMV2959), Supports its Use in Alcohol Addicti

AEterna Zentaris: New Data Published on its Ghrelin Antagonist Compound, AEZS-123 (JMV2959), Supports its Use in Alcohol Addiction 

Data published in July 7, 2009 Issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

QUEBEC CITY, July 7 - AEterna Zentaris Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, today announced publication in the renowned American scientific journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), of new data supporting the use of AEterna Zentaris' ghrelin receptor antagonist compound, AEZS-123 (JMV2959), for the treatment of alcohol dependence that involves ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach and acting in the brain. Compelling evidence obtained with the administration of AEZS-123, and a ghrelin receptor mouse knockout model, highlights the role of ghrelin to regulate the rewarding value of alcohol in a mouse model of alcohol dependence. When ghrelin's actions are blocked, alcohol's effects on the reward system are reduced.

The data show that mice treated with ghrelin increase their alcohol consumption. When ghrelin's actions are blocked by administering ghrelin receptor antagonists such as AEZS-123, mice no longer show preference for an alcohol-associated environment - in other words, alcohol is no longer able to produce its addictive effects that include reward searching behaviour (akin to craving in alcoholic patients).

The work, coordinated by AEterna Zentaris, emerged from an international collaboration between the research groups of Prof. Suzanne Dickson and Prof. Jörgen Engel who performed the pharmacology work at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden, and the research group of Prof. Jean Martinez who synthesized the tested compound AEZS-123 at the Institut des biomolecules Max Mousseron, Montpellier, France.

Suzanne Dickson, Professor of Physiology and a leading expert in appetite regulation said, "Ghrelin's action in the brain may be of importance for several addictions, including chemical drugs such as alcohol and even food."

Daniel Perrissoud, Senior Director of Project Management at AEterna Zentaris and one of the authors of the paper stated, "The discovery of the Gothenburg team that the reward system is a target of ghrelin effects, opens new development opportunities for our proprietary ghrelin receptor antagonists. In the field of addiction, the clinical proof of efficacy can be obtained in a more time- and cost-effective manner than in the field of obesity, as short-term clinical laboratory paradigms can be used for the clinical evaluation."

The article entitled, "Requirement of Central Ghrelin Signaling for Alcohol Reward" appears today in the July 7, 2009 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS 2009; 106:11318-11323) and was published on line on June 29, 2009 in the early edition of the journal.


About AEterna Zentaris' Ghrelin Antagonist Program


Ghrelin is a natural peptide hormone produced by the stomach that increases appetite and induces accumulation of fat tissue. The discovery of ghrelin and its receptors opens up new opportunities for the treatment of obesity and eating disorders through the use of ghrelin antagonists to suppress appetite and fat deposition.

In 2004, AEterna Zentaris signed two agreements for the development of ghrelin antagonists with the Institut des biomolecules Max Mousseron of the University of Montpellier, France, directed by Prof. Jean Martinez, and with the Department of Experimental and Environmental Medicine of the University of Milan, Italy, directed by Prof. Vittorio Locatelli. The research projects were targeting the chemical synthesis and pharmacological investigation of new compounds acting as ghrelin antagonists.

In 2006, AEterna Zentaris reported first in vivo pharmacological data on the capability of proprietary ghrelin receptor antagonists to selectively inhibit food intake.

At the annual meetings of the American Endocrine Society (ENDO) of 2007 and 2008, Prof. Denis Richard of the Centre de recherche de l'Institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec, in collaboration with AEterna Zentaris, presented posters showing that the ghrelin receptor antagonist AEZS-123 reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation in an animal model of diet-induced obesity.


About the Food and Alcohol Addiction Market


There is no safe and effective appetite suppressant currently on the market. It is estimated that between 34 million and 61 million Americans are obese, and the worldwide incidence of obesity is increasing by an estimated 1% per year.

Alcohol dependence is a complex and chronic disease which leads to adverse consequences affecting not only the patients but also their immediate family and has a profound economic burden on society. The annual costs to the United States are estimated to be US$185 billion for alcohol addiction. In 2005, the number of people affected by alcohol problems in the United States was estimated at 15.4 million.


About AEterna Zentaris Inc.


AEterna Zentaris Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, with proven expertise in drug discovery, development and commercialization. News releases and additional information are available at www.aezsinc.com.


Forward-Looking Statements


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