Novagali Pharma Presents Results Of Its Innovative Latanoprost Formulation For Glaucoma

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 28 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PST

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Novagali Pharma, a French pharmaceutical ophthalmic company, announced the results of its first set of data pertaining to Nova21027, its innovative BAK-free latanoprost formulation for glaucoma.

Novagali communicated about "Ocular safety comparison of a latanoprost cationic emulsion versus conventional formulations of prostaglandin analogues: an in vivo toxicity assay" at the 9th Scientific Meeting of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (AOPT) held in Salzburg, Austria. The experimental work has been performed in collaboration with Professor Christophe Baudouin from the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital and Science Faculty of Paris V, France. Acute toxicological studies confirmed the ocular surface toxicity of anti-glaucomatous eye drops containing benzalkonimum chloride (BAK) while Novagali's BAK-free cationic emulsion of latanoprost was well tolerated and did not induce any ocular surface damages upon stress conditions.

Nova21027 is a topical ocular BAK-free emulsion of latanoprost relying on Novasorb(R) patented cationic emulsions technology. The company achieved a product that present a safer profile than BAK-containing marketed products for glaucoma. This feature is of paramount importance taken into account that BAK exerts toxicity after long term use and that glaucoma is a chronic disease needing life-long daily treatment.

"It is now admitted that BAK has a deleterious effect especially in ocular surface diseases and after long-term or combination therapies. This state-of-the art BAK-free formulation of latanoprost demonstrated both efficacy and safety in various preclinical models" says Jerome Martinez, CEO of Novagali.

"Our innovative formulation is also stable at room temperature, which makes our product more convenient from production to patients," explains Jean-Sebastien Garrigue, director of research & development.

The company will present further data in May 2009 during the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO, Fort-Lauderdale, FL).

About Novagali Pharma

Novagali Pharma is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative products. Thanks to its proprietary technology platforms Novasorb(R) and Eyeject(R), the company has developed innovative products addressing main ocular conditions as well as orphan diseases. Most advanced products include Vekacia(R), for treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, Cyclokat(R), for the treatment of moderate-to-severe dry eye syndrome and Cortiject(R) for the treatment of diabetic retinopathies. Cationorm(R), indicated for dry eye symptoms is commercialized in France since April 2008. Founded in 2000, Novagali Pharma is based in the Genopole biocluster in Evry (France).

Novagali Pharma
http://www.novagali.com