Thomson Scientific Publishes its Third Quarter Issue of the Ones to Watch Reviewing the Most Promising Drugs in the Pharmaceutical Pipeline

Thomson Scientific Publishes its Third Quarter Issue of the Ones to Watch Reviewing the Most Promising Drugs in the Pharmaceutical Pipeline

November 30, 2007

Novartis Leads the Drug List With its Alzheimer's Disease
Treatment Exelon TDS

    PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 30 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Thomson
Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC;
TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information solutions to
the worldwide research and business communities, has issued
its quarterly The Ones-to-Watch report. It provides expert
insight into the five most promising drugs entering each
new phase of clinical development between July and
September 2007.

    "Bookending this quarter's list are three
potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease, two of which
are just entering clinical trials and one that has already
received FDA approval," said Peter Robins, editorial
and content manager, Thomson Scientific. "This
quarter's The Ones to Watch report showcases the ongoing
drive to find therapies for diseases that impact on ageing
and sedentary populations." 
    
    Which are the Ones-to-Watch this Quarter?

    Topping this quarter's approval list is Exelon TDS, a
new transdermal patch formulation of rivastigmine, which
looks like a winner for Novartis. In the seven years since
its launch, the oral formulation of rivastigmine has seen
year-on-year US dollar growth as a treatment of Alzheimer's
disease - and Parkinson's disease- associated dementia.  The
FDA approved Exelon TDS for mild to moderate dementia in
July 2007.  The EU approval followed two months later. The
U.S. launch is expected imminently.

    Second on the list is AZOR, which was developed by
Daiichi Sankyo for the treatment of hypertension and
includes a combination of two component drugs. In previous
Phase III trials, all doses of the combination produced
greater mean reductions in blood pressure than either drug
alone.  This, along with its favorable side-effect profile,
should make AZOR an attractive treatment option for patients
whose blood pressure does not respond to either component
drug in isolation.  U.S. approval was granted in September
2007. 

    While the reason for menopause remains unknown, KV
Pharmaceutical believes EvaMist, which takes the third spot
on the list, may offer significant advantages to women
experiencing menopause.  This product is a small,
easy-to-use hand-held applicator that delivers a pre-set
metered dose via the skin, releasing estradoil into the
bloodstream over 24 hours.  EvaMist gained FDA approval in
July 2007.

    The first of two potential treatments for cancer on the
list of notable drugs gaining approval this quarter is
Yondelis, developed by PharmaMar for patients who have not
responded to previous regimens in their treatment of soft
tissue sarcoma.  Yondelis is the first approved product
from PharmaMar, a Spanish biotech specializing in cancer
drugs derived from marine organisms and has Orphan Drug
status in both the EU and U.S., securing extended
protection against generic competition.  

    The second approval win for Novartis this quarter,
Tasigna, is an orally available inhibitor of Bcr-Abl,
c-Kit, PDGF-R and related receptor tyrosine kinases for the
potential treatment of various types of leukemia. Though the
drug has been approved only in Switzerland for chronic
myeloid leukemia, it is awaiting approval in the U.S. and
Japan and has been recommended for approval across the EU. 


    Following are the top five drugs in each category of
phase changes:
    
    The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase III
Trials

    * bevasiranib sodium, (Wet AMD), Opko
    * recombinant active glucocerebrosidase, (Gaucher's
disease), Protalix
    * odanacatib, (osteoporosis), Merck & Co
    * laquinimod, (multiple sclerosis), Active
Biotech/Teva
    * elesclomol, (solid tumors), Synta
    
    The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase II Trials

    * CPP-109, (addiction to cocaine and methamphetamine),
Catalyst  
      Pharmaceuticals
    * intranasal insulin formulation, (diabetes), Nastech
    * LCP-AtorFen, (cholesterol), Life Cycle
    * EC-145, (ovarian and lung cancer), Endocyte
    * TG-100801, (AMD, diabetic macular edemia, diabetic
retinopathy), 
      TargeGen

    The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase I Trials

    * affitope AD-01, (Alzheimer's disease), AFFiRiS
    * MEM-63908, (Alzheimer's disease, CNS disorders),
Memory/Roche
    * TC-5619, (schizophrenia, depression), Targacept
    * RDEA-806, (HIV infection), Ardea Biosciences
    * APD-791, (arterial thrombosis), Arena
Pharmaceuticals

    About This Quarterly Report:

    Data for this report was compiled and analyzed using
Thomson Pharma(R), a comprehensive global pharmaceutical
information solution that covers the entire drug discovery
and development pipeline. Its competitive intelligence and
strategic data can justify and speed decision-making,
facilitate more focused collaboration, and encourage
innovation. 

    For a copy of the full report with analysis, visit:
http://scientific.thomson.com/thomsonpharma/media/pdfs/tpqr/tp_qr_jul-sep2007.pdf
 Due to length of URL, please cut and paste into browser.

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    For more information, please contact:

     Eoin Bedford 
     Thomson Scientific
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]