Stem cells as Drug Rescue tool!!

VistaGen Therapeutics and Synterys Sign Strategic Medicinal Chemistry Collaboration Agreement for Drug Rescue Dec. 7, 2011, 9:30 a.m. EST

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Dec 07, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. /quotes/zigman/5381321 VSTA +3.45% , a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue and cell therapy, and Synterys, Inc., a medicinal chemistry and collaborative drug discovery company, have entered into a strategic medicinal chemistry services agreement. The collaboration will further VistaGen's stem cell technology-based drug rescue initiatives with the support of Synterys' medicinal chemistry expertise. VistaGen's drug rescue activities involve the combination of its human pluripotent stem cell technology platform, Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube(TM), with modern medicinal chemistry to generate new chemical variants (drug rescue variants) of once-promising small molecule drug candidates that pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) or university laboratories discontinued during preclinical development due to toxicity issues. VistaGen's drug rescue model leverages prior investment and preclinical development completed by others as well as the predictive toxicology and drug development capabilities of its stem cell technology platform. "Our collaboration with Synterys directly supports the drug rescue applications of our Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube(TM) platform," said Shawn Singh, VistaGen's Chief Executive Officer. "This strategic collaboration represents another important link in the ecosystem we are building around our cutting-edge technologies and innovations from industry and academia focused on transforming drug development." "After evaluating several high quality candidates, we are happy to have selected Synterys as the medicinal chemistry partner of choice for our drug rescue programs," stated Ralph Snodgrass, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of VistaGen. "Synterys' scientists bring significant experience in medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry to our collaboration, as well as the skills and infrastructure necessary to drive our programs forward successfully and cost effectively." "We are very pleased to be entering into this collaborative relationship with VistaGen," commented John Kincaid, Synterys' founder. "Our company anticipates great success to result from the combination of VistaGen's stem cell technology platform and our decades of combined experience advancing compounds from early preclinical development into human clinical trials." In addition to providing flexible, real-time medicinal chemistry services in support of VistaGen's drug rescue programs, the new agreement anticipates collaborations through which VistaGen and Synterys will identify novel drug rescue opportunities and drive them through preclinical development.

About VistaGen Therapeutics VistaGen is a biotechnology company applying human pluripotent stem cell technology for drug rescue and cell therapy. Drug rescue involves the combination of human pluripotent stem cell technology with modern medicinal chemistry to generate new chemical variants of once-promising small molecule drug candidates that pharmaceutical companies have discontinued during preclinical or early clinical development due to heart or liver toxicity, despite positive efficacy data demonstrating their potential therapeutic and commercial benefits. VistaGen uses its pluripotent stem cell technology to generate early indications, or predictions, of how humans will ultimately respond to new drug candidates before they are ever tested in humans. In parallel with its drug rescue activities, VistaGen is funding early-stage nonclinical studies focused on potential cell therapy applications of its Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube(TM) platform. Additionally, VistaGen's small molecule drug candidate, AV-101, is in Phase 1 development for treatment of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain, a serious and chronic condition causing pain after an injury or disease of the peripheral or central nervous system, affects approximately 1.8 million people in the U.S. alone. VistaGen plans to initiate Phase 2 clinical development of AV-101 in the fourth quarter of 2012. VistaGen is also exploring opportunities to leverage its current Phase 1 clinical program to enable additional Phase 2 clinical studies of AV-101 for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and depression. To date, VistaGen has been awarded over $8.5 million from the NIH for development of AV-101. Visit VistaGen at http://www.VistaGen.com , follow VistaGen at http://www.twitter.com/VistaGen or view VistaGen's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/VistaGen .

About Synterys  Synterys is a medicinal chemistry and collaborative drug discovery services company focused on meeting the needs of virtual and small drug discovery companies. Headquartered in Union City, California, Synterys has state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in the U.S. and Taiwan. The company's modern medicinal and synthetic chemistry infrastructure and capabilities, combined with its experienced team, provides the engine that drives its partners' programs to successful outcomes.