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

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