Alteon's Investigational Drug Alagebrium Demonstrates Beneficial Effects on Heart and Kidney in Preclinical Studies

Alteon's Investigational Drug Alagebrium Demonstrates Beneficial
Effects on Heart and Kidney in Preclinical Studies
Abstract Presented at the American Society of Hypertension Annual Meeting;
Paper Published in the American Journal of Hypertension 


PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 24  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alteon Inc.  announced
today that an abstract detailing the effects of Alteon's A.G.E. Crosslink
Breaker alagebrium (formerly ALT-711) in the treatment of aged spontaneously
hypertensive rats was presented on Saturday at the American Society of
Hypertension Nineteenth Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition in New York
City.  In addition, the abstract and a separate paper were recently published
in the American Journal of Hypertension.  Study results showed that alagebrium
therapy demonstrated beneficial cardiovascular and renal effects by reducing
systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass and urinary protein excretion,
as well as improving left ventricular (LV) function and aortic distensibility.

"Breaker of glycated collagen cross-links, ALT-711, improves left ventricular
function and aortic distensibility in elderly spontaneously hypertensive rats,"
was conducted by researchers from the Hypertension Research Laboratory, Ochsner
Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, LA.  The abstract noted:

   -- That treatment with alagebrium reduced aortic stiffness as compared to
      placebo, as indicated by increased aortic distensibility (108 +/- 9
      mm/mm Hg vs. 79 +/- 8; p