X-Message-Number: 13341 From: "John de Rivaz" <> Subject: C5 Inhibitor Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 17:27:22 -0000 Although this message copied from www.AlexionPharm.com. doesn't specifically mention brain damage, I wonder if it may be of use or interest those technically involved with cryopreservations. Could it be injected into brains before cryopreservation? Apologies if I am writing nonsense, but if it is something that has not been noticed then it could be helpful. >>>>>>>>>> NEW HAVEN, CONN, March 1, 2000 -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN) today announced that its anti-inflammatory C5 Inhibitor significantly prevented organ damage associated with gastrointestinal ischemia. The results suggest that Alexion's C5 Inhibitor may substantially prevent certain complications and morbidity associated with general surgical procedures in the abdomen and with ulcerative colitis. The preclinical results are being presented in a seminar by Dr. Scott Rollins, Senior Director of Drug Development and Project Management at Alexion, at the 5th World Congress on Trauma, Shock, Inflammation and Sepsis in Munich, Germany. Dr. Rollins is presenting results of work performed collaboratively with Dr. Gregory Stahl, Staff Physiologist, Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology (Physiology), Harvard Medical School. In these preclinical studies, administration of Alexion's anti-inflammatory C5 Inhibitor substantially prevented intestinal and lung damage associated with gastrointestinal ischemia. Further, C5 Inhibitor therapy also substantially prevented increases in levels of the cytokine TNF-alpha in the intestine associated with placebo therapy. "In addition to the substantial reductions in morbidity associated with C5 Inhibitor therapy in these preclinical studies, these results also confirm the relationship between terminal complement activation and important inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha," noted Dr. Rollins, an internationally recognized expert in complement biology. "Dr. Stahl's work establishes that C5 Inhibitor therapy substantially prevents intestinal TNF-alpha production and suggests that TNF-alpha release may be complement-dependent in certain clinical settings associated with intestinal damage." "With recently published clinical data suggesting that C5 Inhibitor therapy can limit certain complications associated with cardiac surgery, we are encouraged by these results suggesting that C5 Inhibitor therapy may also limit complications in the broader general surgery population as well as in patients with ulcerative colitis," commented Leonard Bell, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. "These studies are part of our ongoing program to identify additional clinical indications in which our C5 Inhibitors may provide significant clinical benefit to substantial patient populations with large unmet medical needs." According to the National Centers for Health Statistics, over 1 million general surgical procedures were performed on the digestive tract on hospitalized patients in the U.S. in 1996. Intestinal ischemia occurs during common abdominal surgical procedures involving the stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver. Severe, global intestinal ischemia also occurs during major aortic surgery, including aneurysm resection, and may also occur during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Patients may suffer severe postoperative complications from intestinal ischemia including liver failure, shock, lung failure, heart failure, and death. According to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, there are up to 500,000 Americans with ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is frequently associated with severe abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. Alexion's C5 complement inhibitors are designed to selectively block the production of inflammation-causing proteins in a process of the human immune system known as the complement cascade. Selective suppression of this immune response may provide a significant therapeutic advantage relative to existing therapies. Because of the generally beneficial effects of the components of the complement cascade prior to the fifth component (C5) and the greater inflammatory disease-promoting effects of the cleavage products of C5, the Company has identified C5 as a potentially effective anti-inflammatory drug target. Alexion is engaged in the development of products for the treatment of cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurologic diseases caused by undesired effects of the human immune system. Alexion's two lead product candidates are currently in seven clinical development programs. 5G1.1-SC, in collaboration with Procter & Gamble, is in a Phase IIb cardiopulmonary bypass efficacy trial and in two Phase II myocardial infarction efficacy trials. 5G1.1 is in a Phase II efficacy trial for the chronic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a Phase II efficacy trial for the treatment of membranous nephritis and it is commencing a Phase Ib pilot study for treatment of psoriasis and a Phase Ib pilot study for treatment of dermatomyositis. This press release and further information about Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. can be found on the World Wide Web at: www.AlexionPharm.com. <<<<<<<<< -- Sincerely, John de Rivaz my homepage links to Longevity Report, Fractal Report, my singles club for people in Cornwall, music, Inventors' report, an autobio and various other projects: http://geocities.yahoo.com/longevityrpt Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13341