Neurogen in milestone payment
Neurogen Corporation's progress in its research and development collaboration with Aventis has resulted in the achievement of a preclinical milestone, which triggers the payment of $1m from Aventis.
Neurogen Corporation's progress in its research and development collaboration with Aventis has resulted in the achievement of a preclinical milestone, which triggers the payment of $1m from Aventis.
The companies are working together in an exclusive worldwide collaboration to develop new drugs, which target corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF-1) for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and other stress-related disorders.
CRF-1 is a hormone in the brain that is known to be involved in the body's response to stress. Current therapies to treat depression and anxiety work through the regulation of other mechanisms.
William Koster, president and ceo of Neurogen, said: 'Depression and anxiety are debilitating disorders that each affect more than 18m patients in the U.S. Current therapies for both anxiety and depression carry the baggage of undesirable side effects and are not effective in all patients. Together with Aventis, we are committing a sizeable effort to the discovery and development of drugs that block the action of CRF-1 at its receptor. The milestone awarded is an indication that we are making significant progress toward that goal.
'I'm also extremely pleased with progress across our entire portfolio this year. Currently, we're in Phase II with two trials in our unpartnered inflammation program, in Phase I for insomnia with Pfizer, and in preclinical development with Merck for pain. We're also continuing to feed our pipeline with research in our MCH-1 program for obesity and other unpartnered programs.'