Nova Pharmaceutical Corp.'s leumedin compound reducesmortality and reverses the loss of white blood cells from theblood stream during endotoxic shock, according to an animalstudy published in Tuesday's issue of the European Journal ofPharmacology.

Septic shock is marked by heart, liver and respiratory failure,and severe internal bleeding. It is a response to massivebacterial infection in which the endotoxins of bacteria triggerthe migration of white blood cells into body tissues.

According to the report by Nova researchers, mice pretreatedfor two hours with the leumedin NPC 15669 had a 100 percentsurvival rate. The scientists also reported that a single doseof NPC 15669 given two hours before endotoxin partiallyinhibited the initial reduction in white cell counts andcompletely restored white cell counts to normal.

Leumedins are a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs firstreported by Nova in January. NPC 15669 blocks the binding ofwhite blood cells to the endothelial cells that line bloodvessels. As a result, the white blood cells are unable tomigrate into tissue to initiate inflammation, said RonaldBurch, director of inflammation programs at Nova.

The septic shock products developed by Centocor Inc.(NASDAQ:CNTO) and Xoma Corp. (NASDAQ:XOMA) act at anearlier stage of the septic shock process, binding to theendotoxin itself.

However, said Burch, these products work only on sepsiscaused by gram-negative bacteria. About two-thirds of shockpatients have sepsis caused by gram-positive bacteria. Inaddition, Centocor's Centoxin and Xoma's E5 only reducemortality by about 50 percent, said Burch.

Since NPC 15669 works by a different mechanism, acombination of products "might work even better," Burch said.

Nova plans to file an investigational new drug application forPhase I clinical trials of NPC 15669 for sepsis in early 1992.The Baltimore company also hopes to begin Phase I clinicalsfor rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel disorder and,possibly, stroke early next year. The drug is in Phase IIclinicals for contact dermatitis and psoriasis.

Nova stock (NASDAQ:NOVX) closed Tuesday at $4.75, up 75cents. -- Karen Bernstein

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