Nuvo Research granted U.S. Patent for treatment of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma with WF10

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Nuvo Research Inc. (TSX: NRI) a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of products for the topical treatment of pain and the development of its immune modulating drug candidate WF10 today announced that the United States Patent Office has granted U.S. Patent # 8,435,568, relating to compositions and methods of using WF10 and new derivative formulations for the treatment of allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.

"We are pleased that we have been able to secure additional patent protection in the field of airway diseases for WF10 and its newly developed derivative formulations," said Dr. Henrich Guntermann, Nuvo's President, Europe and Immunology Group.  "Now that we have robust and clinically meaningful results from our Phase 2 WF10 allergic rhinitis clinical proof-of-concept trial conducted in Leipzig, Germany and supporting U.S. intellectual property protection, we will be further investigating the marketing opportunity and regulatory pathway to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of WF10 in the U.S."

In early 2010, after receiving Germany's BfArM authorization, the Company initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate WF10 as a treatment for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.  The trial was a 60-subject, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial to assess the efficacy and safety of a regimen of five WF10 infusions for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis.  The trial met its primary endpoint as measured by the change in Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) from baseline to assessment after three weeks comparing the WF10 group with the placebo group. The trial also met its secondary endpoints as measured by the change in TNSS at six, nine and twelve weeks and in the Total Ocular Symptom Score (TOSS) from baseline to assessment after three, six, nine and twelve weeks. The TNSS and TOSS are validated scales to measure the aggregation of nasal and ocular symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis.  The results were statistically significant as the p-values for the primary and secondary endpoints were less than 0.001 for the intent-to-treat and per protocol groups. No drug-related adverse events were reported by trial participants.

About WF10
The immune system provides an essential defense to microorganisms, cancer and substances it sees as foreign and potentially harmful. WF10 focuses on supporting the immune system by targeting the macrophage, a type of white blood cell that coordinates much of the immune system, to regulate normal immune function. In conditions such as allergic rhinitis, the body's immune system inappropriately responds to the presence of foreign allergens. Research suggests that in some cases, WF10 may rebalance improperly functioning immune systems. WF10 is an infusion therapy currently approved only in Thailand under the name IMMUNOKINE for treatment of postradiation chronic inflammatory disease and diabetic foot ulcers.  WF10 is not yet approved for the treatment of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis and was used in the reported study on an investigational basis.

About Nuvo Research Inc.
Nuvo is a publicly traded, Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario.  The Company is building a portfolio of products for the treatment of pain through internal research and development.  The Company's product portfolio includes Pennsaid^®, Pliaglis^® and Synera^®.  Pennsaid, a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is used to treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee(s).  Pennsaid is sold in the United States by Mallinckrodt Inc., a Covidien company, in Canada by Paladin Labs Inc. and in several European countries. Pliaglis is a topical local anesthetic cream which provides topical local analgesia for superficial dermatological procedures.  The Company has licensed worldwide marketing rights to Pliaglis to Galderma Pharma S.A., a global pharmaceutical company specialized in dermatology.  Synera is a topical patch that combines lidocaine, tetracaine and heat, approved in the United States to provide local dermal analgesia for superficial venous access and superficial dermatological procedures and in Europe, for surface anaesthesia of normal intact skin.  Nuvo currently markets Synera in the United States and its licensing partner, Eurocept International B.V., has initiated a pan-European launch of Synera (under the name Rapydan^®) in several European countries.  The Company is also developing WF10, for the treatment of immune related diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's future objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to management's beliefs, plans, estimates, and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts.  Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "objective", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans" or "continue", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events.  Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management.  Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.  Factors that could cause such differences include the need for additional financing, the current economic environment, dependence on sales and marketing partnerships, competitive developments, as well as other risk factors included in the Company's annual information form dated March 27, 2013 under the heading "Risks Factors" and as described from time to time in the reports and disclosure documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory agencies and commissions.  This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may impact the Company's forward-looking statements.  These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.  As a result of the foregoing and other factors, no assurance can be given as to any such future results, levels of activity or achievements and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these forward-looking statements.  The factors underlying current expectations are dynamic and subject to change.  Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.  Certain statements included in this news release may be considered "financial outlook" for purposes of applicable securities laws, and such financial outlook may not be appropriate for purposes other than this news release.  All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements.  The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Nuvo Research Inc.