Lightlake Therapeutics Inc Receives Ethical Approval to Begin Subject Selection for Future Phase II Clinical Trial for New Obesity Drug, in Helsinki, Finland
By Lightlake Therapeutics Inc, PRNEWednesday, December 2, 2009
HELSINKI, December 3 - After two decades of scientifically and medically proven success in their
field, Lightlake Therapeutics' experts have been granted ethical approval to
begin selecting and gene testing subjects for a trial of a simple, safe and
effective treatment for what the World Health Organisation has described as a
global epidemic of unhealthy eating and obesity.
A Phase II trial for the everyday treatment against obesity and the
overeating of unhealthy food, by nasal spray and a behavioural programme,
will aim to prove that Lightlake's treatment can break the addictive habit of
unhealthy eating, significantly reduce weight, and train the mind to embark
on a healthier dietary lifestyle and sustained weight-loss.
Obesity is an epidemic that is resulting in millions of preventable
deaths worldwide. (1) The American Cancer Society estimates that over 100,000
Americans are dying from obesity and over eating related cancers every year
and the estimated healthcare cost alone is $147 billion every year. (2)
By 2012, it's expected that more than two billion people will be
overweight and 600 million will be obese. The U.S. Center for Disease Control
and Prevention and Department of Health in the UK both estimate that 60% of
men and 50% of women and 25% of children will be obese by 2050 if current
trends continue. (3)
Lightlake has been given ethical approval to begin subject selection for
Phase II clinical trial under the direction of its trial coordinator
Professor Hannu Eero Rafael Alho, Professor of Addiction Medicine, University
of Helsinki. The Trial is being conducted in conjunction with the National
Institute for Health and Welfare, in Helsinki. It will last 6 months and
results are expected in the fall of 2010.
Lightlake is pioneering the treatment of one of the world's biggest
killers and will be initially focused on addressing one form of obesity
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - that effects one in three obese people. To
date existing interventions from diets to drugs and surgery have failed to
deliver a sustainable solution to the obesity epidemic that is resulting in
the global healthcare crisis. Those products currently on the market have
questions of efficacy and may come with undesirable side effects. This
trial marks a new departure in the treatment of obesity.
Lightlake Therapeutics is an international team of research scientists,
pharmacologists and doctors backed by investors, who are pioneering the
search for a safe, effective and simple treatment for the epidemic of obesity
and unhealthy eating. Its expertise is derived from an existing treatment
that has recorded a 78% success rate in treating the over consumption of
alcohol.
Dr. David Sinclair, Ph.D., Lightlake's Chief Science Officer says:
"Most human behaviour is driven by a system of reinforcement controlled
by powerful brain chemicals. We have learnt how to regulate these brain
chemicals using an active compound that is extremely safe and effective, so
that bad eating habits are progressively reduced, and good eating is
promoted. Delivery is through a pocket sized nasal spray that is easy and
convenient to carry. The treatment begins working progressively from the
first day to reduce the urge to eat unhealthily. One of the real marvels of
the treatment is that it changes what you think about. Dieting and most other
weight reduction procedures have the opposite effect. They make you think
more and more about problem foods. Our method makes the person no longer
consider consuming the specific foods that are unhealthy."
The active compound used is patented to Lightlake Therapeutics for the
treatment of eating disorders and obesity.
Says Dr. Roy Eskapa, author of The Cure for Alcoholism:
"Everyone is looking for the holy grail of a safe and effective treatment
of obesity with minimal side effects. Many who have attempted the journey
have fallen along the way. It's interesting to see that Lightlake's
intervention is based on a successful treatment for alcoholism. It's a large
leap from alcohol to obesity but Dr David Sinclair's experience and proven
success brings believability and credibility to the possibility. "
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements
relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our
industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, levels of activity,
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based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You
should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results
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specifically consider various factors. These and other factors may cause our
actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. We
undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after
the date of this presentation to conform those statements to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.
Notes to Editors
Dr. David Sinclair, Ph.D. - Chief Science Officer, Lightlake Therapeutics
Inc
Dr. Sinclair began in alcoholism research at University of Cincinnati,
discovering that the usual treatment, forced abstinence, actually increases
craving. After getting his doctorate, he joined the unit on prevention and
treatment of addictions for Finland's National Institute for Health and
Welfare. He subsequently worked on the preclinical studies and clinical
trials proving the concept and on practical implementations. His work is
featured in Dr. Roy Eskapa's 2008 book, The Cure for Alcoholism. Based on his
work, Dr. Sinclair published a behavioural programme for those with impulse
disorders known as the Sinclair Method that has proved highly effective in a
wide range of applications. He has patented similar treatments for various
forms of drug addiction including the use of naltrexone for treating
amphetamine abuse, and has been studying the use of naltrexone for
pathological gambling and a new treatment for panic disorders.
1. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158948.php 2. www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends 3. www.bharatbook.com/Market www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Booming-Global -Obesity-Drug-Market.html
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For more information Visit www.lightake.org UK: For all media enquires, and to set up interviews and comment Mail to: Lisa@lightlaketherapeutics.org US: For all media enquires, and to set up interview and comment Mail to : Stanley Altschuler: saltschuler@sgi-ir.com For Investor Enquiries Robin Morgan, morganrr@mac.com 19 South Audley Street Mayfair London W1K 2NU +44(0)207-493-1900 +44(0)7774-250-818
UK: For all media enquires, and to set up interviews and comment Mail to: Lisa at lightlaketherapeutics.org ; US: For all media enquires, and to set up interview and comment
Mail to: Lisa at lightlaketherapeutics.org ; For Investor Enquiries: Robin Morgan, morganrr at mac.com, 19 South Audley Street Mayfair London W1K 2NU, +44(0)207-493-1900 +44(0)7774-250-818
Tags: finland, Helsinki, Lightlake Therapeutics Inc, United Kingdom
December 7, 2009: 9:46 am
This sounds a promising addition to the armoury of approaches that we currently have available, and Im glad to read that the treatment is designed to go hand in hand with a behaviourla programme. The connection between over eating and theories of addiction have been much debated, but so many sufferers believe themselves addicted. A treatment that can work upon the bodies neurochemical responses, and help mitigate the chemical reward / resultant ‘withdrawal’ and cravings a sufferer experiences, if proved safe and effective, would surely be a great help (but very much doubt the ‘holy grail’). Combined with behavioural adaptations, adressing any genuine emotional and psychological problems, and improving nutrition and activity levels together, would make for a powerful approach for treatment . M Cook |
Matt Cook