DURECT Corporation Announces Initiation of Dosing for Phase III Clinical Program for Memryte (DURIN(TM)-Leuprolide Implant) Program Under Development With Voyager Pharmaceuticals

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CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — DURECT Corporation
(Nasdaq: DRRX), an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company announced today
the initiation of dosing for the Phase III clinical studies for the
DURIN(TM)-based leuprolide program under development with Voyager
Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (the Memryte(TM)
implant).

“We are delighted to meet this significant milestone in development,”
stated James E. Brown, DVM, President and CEO of DURECT. “It has been a
pleasure to work with Voyager on this important program over the last three
years to develop a product candidate that utilizes our proprietary drug
delivery expertise to treat such a chronic debilitating disease.”

Pivotal Phase III Clinical Program Design

The pivotal Phase III program will consist of approximately 1,100 patients
in two randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, 56-week clinical trials
using Memryte as an adjunctive therapy with acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors
(ACIs) for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable, neurodegenerative disorder that
affects over 4 million Americans. This disease is a huge unmet medical problem
that typically leads to progressive memory loss, impairments in behavior and
language, and physical deterioration. The market potential for Alzheimer’s
disease treatments is estimated to be in excess of $10 billion.

DURECT’s DURIN biodegradable implant technology is a platform for
parenteral delivery of drugs for periods of weeks to six months or more. The
technology is based on the use of biodegradable polymer excipients, which have
a proven record of safety and effectiveness in approved drug delivery and
medical device products.

About DURECT Corporation

DURECT Corporation is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused
on the development of pharmaceutical systems based on its proprietary drug
delivery platform technologies that treat chronic or episodic diseases and
enable biotechnology products. These platform technologies include the
SABER(TM) Delivery System (a patented and versatile depot injectable useful
for protein and small molecule delivery), the ORADUR(TM) sustained release
oral gel-cap technology (an oral sustained release technology with several
potential abuse deterrent properties), the DURIN(TM) Biodegradable Implant
(drug-loaded implant system), the TRANSDUR(TM) transdermal technology and the
MICRODUR(TM) Biodegradable Microparticulates (microspheres injectable system).
DURECT also collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to develop and
commercialize proprietary and enhanced pharmaceutical products based on its
technologies. DURECT has five disclosed on-going development programs of which
four are in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners. Additional information
about DURECT is available at www.www.durect.com.

NOTE: SABER(TM), ORADUR(TM), DURIN(TM), TRANSDUR(TM) and MICRODUR(TM) are
trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other referenced trademarks belong to their
respective owners.

DURECT Forward-Looking Statement

The statements in this press release regarding DURECT’s and its
collaborative partners’ products in development, anticipated product benefits,
and clinical trial results and plans are forward-looking statements involving
risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially
from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, DURECT’s (and that of its
third-party collaborators’, where applicable) abilities to successfully enroll
and complete clinical trials, complete the design, development, and
manufacturing process development of the product candidate, obtain product and
manufacturing approvals from regulatory agencies and manufacture and
commercialize the product candidate, as well as marketplace acceptance of the
product candidate. Further information regarding these and other risks is
included in DURECT’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005 filed with the SEC on October 13, 2005 under the heading
“Factors that may affect future results.”

SOURCE DURECT Corporation

CONTACT:
Schond L. Greenway
Executive Director, Investor Relations and
Strategic Planning
DURECT Corporation
408-777-1417

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