Lundbecks Antidepressant Project Lu AA21004 Moved Into Clinical Phase II

Lundbeck A/S has decided to investigate Lu AA21004 for the treatment of depression in patients and will enrol the first patient in a 400 patient phase II study by the end of third quarter 2006. The decision is based on positive pre-clinical results as well as positive conclusion of the phase I trials in healthy individuals.

Lu AA21004 is the most advanced project in Lundbeck within a new chemical class, the bis-aryl-sulphanyl amines. The pharmacology of these projects is markedly different from any currently marketed antidepressants.

Compared with currently approved antidepressants, preclinical models have demonstrated Lu AA21004 to address important unmet needs for patients on both fast onset of effect and increased efficacy.
The in vitro pharmacological profile of the compound shows that the compound combines potent effects on several serotonin receptors and serotonin transporter proteins.

Lundbeck has developed the bis-aryl-sulphanyl amine scaffold as a novel platform for development of a new class of antidepressant. Starting from the bis-aryl-sulphanyl amine platform, molecular engineering allows for rational design of compounds with various receptor profiles and with different pharmacological mechanisms that affect the key neuronal pathways in the brain.

Bis-aryl-sulphanyl amines thus constitute a class of compounds with very promising characteristics.

For further information please contact:

Caroline Broge,

Media Relations Manager
Tel : +45 36 43 26 38
Email: brog@lundbeck.com

Or visit: www.lundbeck.com