ABN 53 075 582 740ASX ANNOUNCEMENTBIONOMICS VALIDATES DRUG...

ABN 53 075 582 740
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
BIONOMICS VALIDATES DRUG CANDIDATE FOR ANXIETY
New drug candidate BNC210 emerges as an effective and safe development prospect
Key points:
• In preclinical testing, new drug candidate, BNC210, provides potent relief of
anxiety with no detectable side effects
• BNC210 targets the up to US$12 billion market for anxiety/depression
• BNC210 is the second clinical candidate to emerge from Bionomics’ discovery
efforts within 13 months and is Bionomics’ first CNS drug candidate
29 May 2007, Adelaide: Australian drug discovery company, Bionomics (ASX: BNO),
announced today that it has identified a novel compound, BNC210, with highly promising
properties as a potential new treatment for psychiatric disorders. Following extensive
validation in preclinical models of mental illness, Bionomics has formally nominated
BNC210 as a drug candidate. Bionomics will now commence manufacturing scale-up
and formal toxicology studies with the objective of filing an Investigational New Drug
(IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
BNC210 has been found to be highly effective across a panel of animal models of clinical
anxiety. To-date, it has shown no signs of the common side-effects associated with
current treatments for anxiety. Key data summarizing the efficacy of BNC210 is
described in the appendix to this announcement.
In addition to anxiety, Bionomics is investigating the potential use of BNC210 for other
psychiatric and neurological conditions.
Richard Morgan, formerly of GlaxoWellcome and a Scientific Advisor to Bionomics
commented “In preclinical testing, BNC210 was found to be fast-acting, orally bioavailable
(suitable for formulation as a tablet), and showed signs of increased efficacy
when administered over an extended period. While it is a novel compound, BNC210
belongs to a well-established class of drugs which has a long history of safe
pharmaceutical use. Its properties appear consistent with once a day use in humans.
BNC210 has the potential to fill an important need in the market.”
Dr Deborah Rathjen, Chief Executive Officer of Bionomics commented: “Whilst anxiety
disorders remain one of the most widespread human conditions the use of current drugs
may be accompanied by side-effects including sedation, impaired memory and sexual
dysfunction. From a commercial stand-point, I believe BNC210 is an exciting addition to
our pipeline, as BNC210 appears to have none of the side effects that plague other drugs
in this sector. The world market for drugs to treat anxiety and the related condition of
depression is over US$12 billion – one of the largest markets in the pharmaceutical
industry. This is why the pharmaceutical industry continues to look for new drugs to treat
anxiety. ”