Alteon's Investigational Drugs Demonstrate Ability to Reduce Atherosclerosis

Alteon's Investigational Drugs Demonstrate Ability to Reduce
Atherosclerosis
- Preclinical Study in 'Diabetes' Also Identifies Important Role of Sugar in
Atherosclerosis - 


PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 29  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alteon Inc. announced
today that a preclinical study published in the July issue of Diabetes: Journal
of the American Diabetes Association (1) identifies the role of sugar- protein
bonds, or Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.s), as a culprit in the
progression of atherosclerosis. The study, conducted in a well- characterized
mouse model of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis, further demonstrates that
drugs designed to target the A.G.E. Pathway, specifically Alteon's A.G.E.
Crosslink Breaker alagebrium and A.G.E. Inhibitor pimagedine, reduce measures
of atherosclerosis in diabetic mice.  The authors conclude that the A.G.E.s
play an important role in atherosclerosis, and provide investigators with new
therapeutic options to explore as part of an approach to reduce cardiovascular
disease accelerated by diabetes.

Advanced Glycation End-products are permanent glucose structures that form when
sugar binds to the surface of proteins.  Some A.G.E.s further crosslink between
proteins.  In healthy individuals, this process occurs naturally, though
slowly, as the body ages.  In diabetic patients, because of higher levels of
circulating blood glucose, the rate of A.G.E. accumulation and the extent of
protein cross-linking is accelerated.  Many of these proteins, including
structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, play an integral role in the
maintenance of cardiovascular elasticity function and vascular wall integrity. 
When these proteins become cross-linked due to A.G.E. formation, the elastic
properties of the tissues in which these proteins reside are reduced, impairing
the normal function of organs throughout the body that depend on flexibility
for normal function, such as blood vessels and cardiac muscle.  A.G.E.s have
been implicated in many diseases of aging and diabetes; this new study further
identifies their damaging role in atherosclerosis.

In the study, "Advanced Glycation End Product Interventions Reduce
Diabetes-Accelerated Atherosclerosis," researchers from the Baker Medical
Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and the University of South
Carolina, explored atherosclerosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice that
were randomized to receive A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker alagebrium (formerly
ALT-711), A.G.E. Inhibitor pimagedine (formerly aminoguanidine), or no
treatment for 20 weeks.  Diabetes caused a sixfold increase in atherosclerotic
plaque in the animals; alagebrium reduced the plaque area by 30% and pimagedine
by 40%.  Diabetes-associated accumulation of A.G.E.s in aortas and plasma were
ameliorated by both treatments.  In addition, in both treatment groups there
were improvements in skin collagen solubility and a reduction in levels of
transforming growth factor and connective tissue growth factor which were
increased in diabetes.  In the alagebrium treatment group, there was a
significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL
cholesterol and triglycerides, but no statistical changes in the pimagedine
group.  The study was supported by grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation (JDRF), the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and U.S. Public
Health Service Grant DK-19971.

"These findings underscore the importance of developing drugs such as
alagebrium that have an impact on the A.G.E. Pathway," said Kenneth I. Moch,
President and CEO.  "Alteon is the pioneer and clear leader in this effort,
having advanced alagebrium into several ongoing Phase 2 human clinical trials
in cardiovascular disease.  This new study in Diabetes provides further support
for the therapeutic potential of alagebrium."

About Alteon

Alteon is developing several new classes of drugs that reverse or slow down
diseases of aging and complications of diabetes.  These compounds have an
impact on a fundamental pathological process caused by protein-glucose
complexes called Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.s).  The formation and
crosslinking of A.G.E.s lead to a loss of flexibility and function in body
tissues, organs and vessels and have been shown to be a causative factor in
many age-related diseases and diabetic complications.  Alteon has created a
library of novel classes of compounds targeting the A.G.E. Pathway.  Alteon's
lead compound alagebrium chloride (formerly ALT-711), the only A.G.E. Crosslink
Breaker in advanced human testing, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in
several Phase 2 trials and is actively being developed for systolic
hypertension and heart failure. Ongoing clinical trials include SPECTRA
(Systolic Pressure Efficacy and Safety Trial of Alagebrium) and PEDESTAL
(Patients with Impaired Ejection Fraction and Diastolic Dysfunction: Efficacy
and Safety Trial of ALagebrium).  For more information on Alteon, visit the
company's website at http://www.alteon.com/.

Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans,
events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, those relating to technology and
product development (including the possibility that early clinical trial
results may not be predictive of results that will be obtained in large-scale
testing or that any clinical trials will not demonstrate sufficient safety and
efficacy to obtain requisite approvals or will not result in marketable
products), regulatory approval processes, intellectual property rights and
litigation, competitive products, ability to obtain financing, and other risks
identified in Alteon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
information contained in this press release is accurate as of the date
indicated.  Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. Alteon
undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to
these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.

   (1)  Josephine M. Forbes, Louis Teo Loon Yee, Vicki Thallas, Markus
        Lassila, Riccardo Candido, Karin A. Jandeleit-Dahm, Merlin C.
        Thomas, Wendy C. Burns, Elizabeth K. Deemer, Susan M. Thorpe, Mark
        E. Cooper, and Terri J. Allen: Advanced glycation end product
        interventions reduce diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis.
        'Diabetes,' 53:000-000, 2004.


DATASOURCE: Alteon Inc.



CONTACT:  Susan M. Pietropaolo, Director, Corporate Communications &

Investor Relations, of Alteon, [phone], fax, [phone] 



Web site:  http://www.alteonpharma.com/ 

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