Potential treatment for Duchenne

The Oxford based biotechnology company VASTox has announced today the selection of a candidate drug, VOX C1100, for preclinical testing to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy and anticipates that the drug could be tested in affected boys by mid-2008.

The research behind this exciting technology has been partly funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and
is based on the discovery of utrophin, a protein with
similar functions to dystrophin. Utrophin might be able
to compensate for the lack of dystrophin in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy if it is produced in increased amounts. VASTox has announced that it identified a promising compound, VOX C1100, which has been shown to reduce the level of muscle degeneration in a living organism. The company expects to start a Phase I clinical trial in the second half of 2008.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has a long-standing relationship with Professor
Kay Davies (see picture), a
co-founder of VASTox. The charity is currently supporting research into this technology with a two-year research grant totalling £120,000.

Dr Marita Pohlschmidt, Director of Research at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said:
“It has been part of an ongoing research initiative to replace the missing dystrophin with utrophin in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has supported the work of Prof. Davies for more than a decade and we are delighted by the possibility that her work might contribute to the alleviation of the severe muscle weakness associated with this devastating illness.”

Further information can be found on the Vastox website: www.vastox.com