Cephalon Inc. announced that safety studies of its recombinantinsulin-like growth factor Myotrophin in patients with, andwithout, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis safely achievedconcentrations that helped heal motor neurons in preclinicalstudies.

Stanley Appel, chairman of the Department of Neurology at TheBaylor College of Medicine, presented the Phase I results at theannual meeting of the International Spinal Muscle AtrophyConsortium.

Michael Lewis, Cephalon's senior director of scientific affairs,presented preclinical data showing that Myotophin can preventperipheral nerve damage caused by use of the anti-tumor drugtaxol.

"Taxol is an important new chemotherapeutic agent," saidFrank Baldino Jr., president and chief executive officer ofCephalon. "The use of Myotrophin as an adjunctive agent intaxol therapy presents an important market opportunity forthe company."

Cephalon started Phase II/III clinical trials of Myotrophin inapproximately 200 ALS patients in the U.S. and Canada.

Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is a progressive, fataldegenerative disease of motor neurons that affectsapproximately 25,000 to 30,000 people in the U.S. -- NancyGarcia

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.