Dynogen Expands DDP225 Patent Estate

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 16, 2008 - Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company has acquired from Arachnova Therapeutics, Ltd. all of its worldwide patent rights and know-how related to DDP225 in an asset purchase agreement. The Arachnova patent rights, which include granted patents and pending applications related to the use of DDP225 for the treatment of functional bowel disorders, genitourinary (GU) disorders and pain, complement and enhance Dynogen's existing extensive worldwide patent estate related to DDP225. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Dynogen is developing DDP225 as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-d), and last month announced positive clinical results of DDP225 in a Phase 2 proof of concept trial. The 1 mg dose of DDP225 achieved a 71% response rate compared to a 25% response rate for placebo in the prospectively defined clinical endpoint of adequate relief of IBS pain or discomfort. This was a statistically significant (p=0.009) benefit over placebo using an efficacy measure accepted by the FDA as the basis for approval for treatment of IBS-d. Dynogen plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial of DDP225 in 2008.

"The acquisition of Arachnova's DDP225 patent estate clarifies the patent landscape and provides Dynogen with ownership and control of all DDP225 worldwide patent rights in our therapeutic areas of interest," stated Mark Boshar, Dynogen's Vice President for Legal Affairs and Chief Patent Counsel. "Dynogen now owns 18 issued patents and more than 60 pending patent applications worldwide related to DDP225, and is well positioned to have market exclusivity for the commercialization of DDP225."
About DDP225

DDP225 is an oral noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NARI) and a weak 5HT3 receptor antagonist that Dynogen is developing for IBS-d. Noradrenaline and serotonin are neurotransmitters that are known to be involved in the control of the gastrointestinal system. The unique combination of noradrenaline reuptake inhibition and weak 5HT3 antagonism in one orally delivered compound represents a novel approach to treating IBS-d, enabling efficacy to be achieved at very low and well tolerated doses of DDP225. Dynogen licensed preclinical and clinical data related to DDP225 from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in October 2003.