Bionomics Begins Phase 1b Study With Anxiety Drug Bnc210

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO) has initiated a Phase 1b clinical trial in healthy volunteers of BNC210, the Company's drug candidate in development for the treatment of anxiety and depression.

The trial will be conducted by Biotrial International at its facility in Rennes, France and will investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of BNC210. This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and will treat over 50 healthy male volunteers in sequential multiple ascending doses.

Four groups of subjects will be enrolled to receive one of four doses of BNC210 or placebo, twice a day for eight days.

Target engagement by BNC210 will be investigated through the use of a nicotine challenge where the subjects response to nicotine will be monitored by a brain EEG. All subjects on the study will undergo a standard battery of pharmacodynamic assessments.

The primary endpoint of the trial will be the safety and tolerability of BNC210 following multiple administrations with secondary endpoints investigating the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of BNC210 and its effect on cognitive functions and the response to nicotine.

In addition a Phase 2a study for BNC210 in human patients suffering anxiety is planned with the trial anticipated to commence during Q1, 2015 in the UK. These trials mark vital steps in the development of BNC210 and will position it for partnering opportunities.

"We're eager to get back to the clinic with BNC210 and unlock the potential of this compound," said Dr Deborah Rathjen, Bionomics' CEO and Managing Director.

"We expect this to be a pivotal year in its development and given the data thus far are confident it will be another Bionomics drug candidate that will attract the interest of big pharma companies."

Data from this trial is anticipated in Q3, 2015.

BNC210 is a first-in-class compound for the treatment of anxiety that appears to be devoid of the considerable side effect problems of current therapies. Its mechanism of action is by negative allosteric modulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a novel target for anxiety. It has been evaluated at single doses in five clinical trials and 148 subjects to date. 

As previously announced, financing for the clinical trials is in place through Silicon Valley Bank.

To view the whole announcement, insert the following details into your web browser: http://www.bionomics.com.au/upload/investors/asx-announcements/4736/ASX695%20%20BNC210%20Phase%201b%20initiation.pdf

About Bionomics Limited
Bionomics (ASX: BNO) is biopharmaceutical company which discovers and develops innovative therapeutics for cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. Bionomics has small molecule product development programs in the areas of cancer, anxiety, memory loss and pain. Its oncology approach includes cancer stem cell therapeutics as well as vascular disruption in solid tumours.

Bionomics' discovery and development activities are driven by its four proprietary technology platforms: MultiCore®, a diversity orientated chemistry platform for the discovery of small molecule drugs; ionX® , a set of novel technologies for the identification of drugs targeting ion channels for diseases of the central nervous system; Angene®, a drug discovery platform which incorporates a variety of genomics tools to identify and validate novel angiogenesis targets (involved in the formation of new blood vessels); and CSC Rx Discovery™, which identifies antibody and small molecule therapeutics that inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells. These platforms drive Bionomics' pipeline and underpin its established business strategy of securing partners for its key compounds. Bionomics partners include Merck & Co.

www.bionomics.com.au

Factors Affecting Future Performance
This announcement contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the United States' Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to prospective events or developments, including, without limitation, statements made regarding Bionomics' development candidates BNC105, BNC210, BNC101 and BNC375, our acquisition of Eclipse Therapeutics and ability to develop products from their platform, its licensing deals with Merck & Co, drug discovery programs and pending patent applications are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to our available funds or existing funding arrangements, a downturn in our customers' markets, our failure to introduce new products or technologies in a timely manner, Merck's decisions to continue or not to continue development of partnered compounds, regulatory changes, risks related to our international operations, our inability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies into our existing business and to our competitive advantages, as well as other factors. Results of studies performed on competitors products may vary from those reported when tested in different settings.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable legislation or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which our securities are quoted, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.

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SOURCE Bionomics Limited

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