SEATTLE, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) today announced that research on the PPAR-gamma agonists it is developing in its Addiction franchise has been published in the April 1, 2011 issue of the Journal of Biological Psychiatry.  The article was selected as a focus of a press release issued on April 5, 2011 by Biological Psychiatry, one of the most commonly cited journals in the field of psychiatric neuroscience.

The article, authored by Omeros' collaborators Drs. Stopponi and Ciccocioppo, their colleagues and Omeros scientists, demonstrates that activation of the PPAR-gamma receptor in animal models of alcohol addiction reduces alcohol drinking and stress-induced relapse of alcohol-seeking behavior. In addition, the PPAR-gamma agonist prevented expression of alcohol withdrawal signs.

Omeros exclusively owns patent applications claiming the use of any PPAR-gamma agonists, alone or in combination with other agents, for the treatment or prevention of any addiction or compulsive behavior. Omeros' PPAR-gamma program has demonstrated strong animal data and preliminary human data in opioid, nicotine and alcohol addiction. Importantly, the PPAR-gamma agonists have not shown the detrimental side effects of drugs currently marketed to treat addiction. Phase 2 clinical trials funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse are currently in progress evaluating the effects of PPAR-gamma agonists in the treatment of prescription and illicit opioid addiction. Omeros plans to conduct additional studies evaluating PPAR-gamma agonists for the treatment of opioid, nicotine and alcohol addiction.

About Omeros' PPAR-gamma Program

Omeros is developing proprietary compositions that include PPAR-gamma agonists for the treatment and prevention of addiction to substances of abuse, which may include opioids, nicotine and alcohol. Omeros believes that it is the first to demonstrate a link between PPAR-gamma and addiction disorders. Data from European pilot clinical studies and animal models of addiction suggest that PPAR-gamma agonists could be efficacious in the treatment of a wide range of addictions. The Company's collaborators at The New York State Psychiatric Institute are conducting two Phase 2 clinical trials for the PPAR-gamma program. These studies are evaluating a PPAR-gamma agonist, alone or in combination with other agents, for the abuse liability potential of oxycontin and for the treatment of addiction to heroin. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is providing substantially all of the funding for these clinical trials. Omeros will have the right to reference the data obtained from these studies for subsequent submissions to the FDA and continue to retain all other rights in connection with the PPAR-gamma program.

About Omeros Corporation

Omeros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing products focused on inflammation, bleeding and disorders of the central nervous system. The Company's most clinically advanced product candidates are derived from its proprietary PharmacoSurgery™ platform designed to improve clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a wide range of surgical and medical procedures. Omeros has five ongoing clinical development programs, including three from its PharmacoSurgery™ platform and two from its addiction franchise. Omeros may also have the near-term capability, through its GPCR program, to add a large number of new drug targets and their corresponding compounds to the market. Behind its clinical candidates and GPCR platform, Omeros is building a diverse pipeline of protein and small-molecule preclinical programs targeting inflammation, bleeding and central nervous system disorders.

About the Journal of Biological Psychiatry

The Journal of Biological Psychiatry is the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. It publishes full-length reports of novel results, commentaries, case studies of unusual significance, and correspondence judged to be of high impact to the field, particularly those addressing genetic and environmental risk factors, neural circuitry and neurochemistry, and important new therapeutic approaches. The Journal of Biological Psychiatry is ranked 4th out of 117 Psychiatry titles and 13th out of 230 Neurosciences titles in the 2009 ISI Journal Citations Reports® published by Thomson Reuters.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential benefits of PPAR-gamma agonists for the treatment of addiction; Omeros' plans to conduct additional studies evaluating PPAR-gamma agonists for the treatment of opioid, nicotine and alcohol addiction; and that Omeros may have the near-term capability, through its GPCR program, to add a large number of new drug targets and their corresponding compounds to the market. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Omeros' actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2011. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE Omeros Corporation