Procyte Corp. on Tuesday said its reformulated drug Iamin hasimproved the wound-healing ability of animals in new tests ofthe compound.

The animal study was presented last week by companycollaborator H. Paul Ehrlich, a wound healing researcher at theShriner's Burn Institute and Harvard University, at asymposium in France. The results with Iamin, composed ofthree amino acids complexed with copper, show that the drugcan bring impaired healing of immune-deficient rats back on apar with normal rats.

The study, which updates results obtained in rats last year,gives more data that is "rounding out the puzzle for us" on howthe simple compound works, Karen Hedine, company vicepresident, told BioWorld.

Hedine said that Schering, which had been a partner indeveloping the drug, backed out of the collaboration when thedrug showed irritating effects in Phase II studies of diabeticwound healing. Procyte has since discovered that the drug'svehicle was at fault and has a new formulation for applyingthe drug that avoids the irritation, Hedine said.

The Phase II studies at 14 medical centers are expected to endby early next year, and the Kirkland, Wash., company(NASDAQ:PRCY) is recruiting another corporate partner to helpdevelop Iamin, Hedine said.

Meanwhile, Procyte is getting encouraging results withanother compound in its pipeline. Tricomin, a promoter of hairgrowth, is entering the dosage and efficacy portion of itsPhase I/II trial in France, Hedine said. -- Roberta Friedman,Ph.D.

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