CytRx' arimoclomol reverses nerve degeneration

US firm CytRx has said that its drug candidate arimoclomol, for which it intends to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for Lou Gehrig's disease (or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in the second quarter of 2005, accelerated the regeneration of damaged nerves in experimental animals.

"These are highly interesting data that show that the drug can significantly improve nerve function in rats that have artificially had their spinal or sciatic nerves damaged by cutting or freezing," said Louis Ignarro, the firm's chief scientific spokesman. "This acceleration of nerve repair provides additional evidence that the drug might ultimately be effective as a treatment for Lou Gehrig's disease and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases as well," he noted.

"Our interest in arimoclomol as a therapeutic began with the previously published results that the drug could delay the progression of ALS in a mouse model of the disease," added chief executive Steven Kriegsman.