Forum Archive Index - February 2003

["G Stolwyk" <stolwyk@wave.co.nz>]

 INFORMATION POST-- Potential Investors, please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
Here is a summary of the activities of Novogen (AX.NRT): 

1. NRT's Technology platform.
The company has been researching "flavonoids" which are found in plants. Their function is growth regulation of plant cells including both inhibition and stimulation of cell proliferation.
There is a commonality in fundamental cellular processes between plant and animal cells.

NRT recognizes that plant flavonoids play a key role as bio-regulators in humans and that their main role is to prevent the onset of degenerative diseases by helping to regulate how human cells age.

The basis for this regulation is now understood: It is through the 'signal transduction mechanism ' in cells - mechanisms that are responsible for passing signals from the cell's control box ( the DNA ) to the rest of the cell.

Yale university has made recent discoveries which could lead to further breakthroughs: look for " Reactivating death receptors" in the Summary of:

http://www.ozestock.com.au/News.asp?Action=ShowAnnouncement&ArticleID=221463

NRT has selected the most potent flavonoids and these are a group of plant substances known as "isoflavones". Scientists used these to design new compounds and then synthesised them in the laboratory.

These new compounds are known as " Isoflavonoids ". Novogen (NRT) has created an extensive collection of these new compounds which are kept in the library.

The goal is to bring to market a series of products drawn from this library and these could contribute to the prevention and treatment of a wide range of common degenerative disorders:
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2. Drug development.
NV4: A drug to combat cardiovascular disease. Trials: see Appendix, item 1.

NV06 or **Phenoxodiol**
There is great interest in treatment of cancers, more so as these are increasing while the population is getting older in many countries. Ideally, a drug has to be effective and has to have a high degree of tolerance and little or no side effects.

Present cancer drugs don't comply with both these conditions at the same time or they merely slow down the process of degeneration.

The FDA has expedited some of the drug Phenoxodiol research, partly, because results from Australia were available but also, because it has a reportedly high degree of tolerance and little or no side effects. This enables the dosage to be increased.

This contrasts with other drugs which may be successful but will damage the immune system or the health of the patient as a result of the treatment.

Extracts from FDA Fast Track, Priority Review and Accelerated Approval:

 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/onctools/Accel.cfm

 

A cancer drug can be highly specialized and attack a certain cancer. However, a cancer may be supported by a variety of mechanisms.

Present drugs will attack one or perhaps two of these in a certain cancer, but Phenoxodiol is **unique** because:

A. It targets multiple mechanisms within the cancer cells. It is a "multiple signal transduction regulator " (MSTR) drug.

In the laboratory it has proven to knock out key malfunctioning enzymes including the protein "tyrosine kinase that regulates EGF receptor , topoisomerase II and sphingosine kinase.

It is now thought that this last mentioned enzyme is fundamental in the cancer process in most human cancers. Note that phenoxodiol is the first drug to be shown to knock out this important enzyme!

B. It targets mechanisms that are fundamental to the cancer process and are not specific to certain types of cancer.
C. Sofar, little or no side effects have been reported.

This is a powerful combination of three unique positives. If successful, such a drug will be extremely valuable!
Notes: Drug development entails a number of time consuming 'pre - clinical' and 'clinical' testings:

http://www.novogen.com/pharma/pharma0401.cfm?mainsection=04&subsection=02

There are a few "signal transduction inhibitors" , one is "Gleevec" by Novartis.

This effective drug targets a special mutation (chronic myeloid leukaemia), but is unlikely to be useful in other cancers.

The remainder have shown significant side-effect problems or do not have the cocktail of inhibitors, NV6 ( phenoxodiol) has.

Phenoxodiol Trials: Appendix, item 2. There are some important Stage II trials starting up.

 

How long will Phenoxodiol Patents run? From NTR: Any patent will run to 2016.
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NV07A: A drug with anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory properties; if successful, could be used to prevent the long term effects of UV-exposure including skin cancer development. See interview with dr. Kelly on 27 Febr. 2001: 

 

http://www.ozestock.com.au/messageview.asp?symbol=NRT&PostNum=1075&POSTNUMBER=true

 

Trials: see Appendix, item 3.

NV07B: An anti - inflammatory drug to combat chronic inflammatory diseases, eg. rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Trials:see Appendix, item 4.

NV47: A derivative of phenoxodiol and a powerful drug against a selected tumour type. see Appendix, item 5.

NV50: A derivative of phenoxodiol and the design makes it more powerful in killing estrogen-sensitive (breast) cancers. Trials: see Appendix, item 6. 

 

NV5063. New Generation drug  to combat Breast cancer. Trials: see Appendix, item 7.

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3.Consumer Health Products: these have isoflavon compounds:
Promensil: Provides natural relief from menopause symptoms. Trials, see Appendix, item 8.2.

Rimostil: To maintain bone and cholesterol health after memopause.

Trinovin: Isoflavones known to contribute to the maintenance of prostate health Trials: see Appendix, item 8.3.
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4. Corporate: NRT has 96 mill. shares. Current price $1.87. Main listing: NRT (ASX), web site: < www.novogen.com >

NRT is also listed on the Nasdaq (NVGN).  NB: 1ADR=5 NVGN shares.  NRT has about 95% in "Marshall Edwards Inc" (also referred to as MEI): It is now listed on the LSE (AIM board) with the code: MSH.

NRT had $40 mill cash as on the 1st July 2002.

Gerry
Disclaimer: Outcomes may be different than predicted. Readers are not asked to buy, hold or sell NRT, MSH or NVGN. To do so, will be entirely at their own risk.