LA JOLLA, Calif., April 2, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Duska Therapeutics, Inc.,
(OTCBB:DSKA), a biotechnology company developing medical products based on
adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and P2 receptor-related technologies, announced
today that Professor Riccardo Polosa, M.D., Ph.D., has joined Duska's Scientific
Advisory Board (SAB).
Professor Polosa is a member of the faculty of the University of Catania, Italy.
He is an internationally recognized leader in the field of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorders and the use of airway challenging studies
(bronchoprovocation) in the management of patients with these disorders. He has
authored and co-authored more than 450 scientific publications, 151 of which
were published in peer-reviewed journals, and his work has been extensively
cited by others. In recent years, his clinical research work has established
novel applications of the adenosine 5'-monophospohate (AMP)-bronchial challenge
study in the management of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorder (COPD).
Professor Polosa will assume the position of Clinical Director of the
Aspirex(tm) program. Aspirex(tm) is the commercial name of Duska's proposed
bronchoprovocator, in which the active ingredient is adenosine 5'-triphosphate
(ATP). Professor Polosa is joining distinguished clinical scientists already on
the SAB including Professor Peter Barnes, who is a recognized authority on COPD
and asthma.
"We are very pleased to welcome Professor Polosa as a new member of Duska's
Scientific Advisory Board," said Dr. Amir Pelleg, Duska's President and Chief
Scientific Officer. "We believe that the combined, tremendous experience and
expertise of Professors Barnes and Polosa in the field of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorders will serve Duska well in its efforts to develop Aspirex(tm)
as a new and superior bronchoprovocator as well as Vagonixen(tm), which is our
proposed drug for the treatment of COPD," he added.
About Aspirex(tm)
Excessive treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and diagnostic problems are
prevalent in primary care patients. Several noninvasive clinical procedures that
assess airway inflammation are aimed at the optimization of diagnoses of chronic
obstructive airway disorders, prediction of their exacerbation, and assessment
of their response to various therapies have been proposed. The most common
procedure is the well standardized clinical bronchial challenge study, which
employs bronchoprovocators that act directly on airway smooth muscle (e.g.,
metacholine and histamine). These agents are highly sensitive but not specific
for asthma and cannot be used to differentially diagnose asthma versus COPD in a
clinical population. AMP and ATP are bronchoprovocators that act indirectly on
airway smooth muscle and, therefore, the response of patients' airways to these
compounds may better reflect an ongoing airway inflammation, identify more
specifically active asthma and be a relevant marker to assess clinical course of
the disease and the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory therapy. Several
studies have already shown that the status of airway inflammation correlates
better with airway responsiveness to AMP than that of metacholine. Preliminary
studies sponsored by Duska and carried out by Professor Barnes and his
colleagues at the Imperial College of Medicine in London have demonstrated that
asthmatic patients are more sensitive to ATP than AMP (Chest 2005; 128:1905-9).
Duska believes that ATP would be similarly superior to metacholine, which is
currently used in the U.S., and potentially also to AMP, which has been studied
in Europe.
About Duska Therapeutics, Inc.
Duska Therapeutics, Inc., based in La Jolla, California, is an emerging
biotechnology company that is focused on the development of therapeutic, medical
device and diagnostic products related to adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and
cell-surface P2 receptors (P2R). Duska owns or has exclusive license rights to a
number of proprietary products, four of which are currently in various stages of
development for the treatment and diagnosis of certain cardiac arrhythmias,
enhancement of sperm motility, treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disorder, and mitigation of the toxic effects of radiation exposure. For more
information, visit Duska's website at http://www.duskatherapeutics.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ
materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations,
estimates and projections made by management. Duska intends for the
forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for
forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends,"
"plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," or variations of such words are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All statements in this
release regarding the future outlook related to Duska are forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Additional uncertainties
and risks are described in Duska's most recently filed SEC documents, such as
its most recent annual report on Form 10-KSB, all quarterly reports on Form
10-QSB and any current reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of the last Form
10-KSB. Copies of these filings are available through the SEC website at
www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available
to Duska on the date hereof. Duska undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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CONTACT: Duska Therapeutics, Inc.
James S. Kuo, M.D., M.B.A., Chairman and CEO
858-551-5700
Fax: 858-551-5704
kuoj@duskascientific.com
