Memory Pharmaceuticals completes dosing of phase 1 study of MEM 3454

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., Feb. 14 - Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. said it has completed dosing in its phase 1 study of MEM 3454, a partial agonist of the nicotinic alpha-7 receptor, in healthy volunteers.

The nicotinic alpha-7 receptor is found in the central nervous system. Compounds acting on this receptor could be beneficial in the treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, as well

as other psychiatric and neurological disorders, according to a company news release.

"The data from this trial will provide us with critical safety and dosing information about MEM 3454 and insights into the appropriate clinical development path for this drug candidate," David A. Lowe, chief scientific officer, said in the release. "We look forward to reporting the top-line results from this trial in the second quarter of 2006."

The phase 1 single-center study, conducted in Toronto, consists of four segments. The first was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single ascending doses of MEM 3454 in 56 healthy young male volunteers.

The second segment, a standard food interaction study, involved 12 volunteers. The third segment was a single ascending dose study of 15 elderly volunteers, while the final segment was a multiple ascending dose study of 48 healthy young male and female volunteers.

Under the terms of Memory's 2003 collaboration with Roche, Memory leads the development of MEM 3454 through Phase 2a clinical trials.

Following completion of these trials, Roche has the right to obtain an exclusive license to MEM 3454. Roche may maintain its right through the development process by making payments to Memory upon its achievement of certain pre-established development milestones, the company said.

Memory is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative drugs for the treatment of debilitating central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. The company is located in Montvale, N.J.

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