• Noscira, a company of Zeltia Group specialized in research and development of drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and development of compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's. Noscira is the only company in the world with an innovative treatment in Phase II trials, based on GSK -3 enzyme inhibition.
 

• The capital increase is addressed to private and institutional investors with a minimum investment of 50,000 Euros, with preferential subscription rights for shareholders.
 

• The funds raised by the capital increase will go to research and development of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
 

Madrid, January 23rd 2009: Noscira, a biotechnology company of the Zeltia Group, has announced the launch of a capital increase of 25 million euros. The agreement includes issuing and distribution of 2,941,177 ordinary shares at a subscription price of 8.5 euros per share that shareholders of the company can subscribe on preferential basis during a period of one month. 

Once this period is finalized, the shares will be offered for third party subscription, through a procedure of private placement coordinated by RENTA 4 and addressed to individual and institutional investors who purchase securities for a minimum amount of 50,000 euros. The funds raised will go mainly to the development of NP-12 Phase IIa for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and also to continue the development of Noscira’s portfolio of compounds.

Noscira specializes in the discovery and development of drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, and has a broad portfolio of compounds in various stages of development.

The most advanced compound is NP-12. Its innovative mechanism of action, acting on the two main cellular processes that cause Alzheimer's disease, tau hyperphosphorylation and β-amyloid aggregation, makes this drug one of the most innovative approaches to the treatment of the disease.

The funds raised from the capital increase will enable the company to continue the development of its pipeline until the end of 2010, when the company could be valued as suitable for a flotation on the basis of market development.

About NP-12
Noscira’s most advanced compound is NP-12, one of the most innovative approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. NP-12 Acts on the two main cellular processes that cause the disease, tau hyperphosphorylation and β-amyloid aggregation.  

The efficacy results of NP-12 in a double transgenic mouse model hAPPxTau made by the Area of Neurology of the Hospital de Santa Cruz y San Pablo in Barcelona were presented at the last International Congress of Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD), held in July 2008 in Chicago.

The administration of NP-12 for three months resulted in an improvement of cognitive performance, diminished the deposits of amyloid and tau, reduced neuro-inflammation and the neuronal loss. The results confirm and broaden data previously obtained in other animal models on the efficacy of the compound.

Both in Alzheimer's disease and other diseases such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), NP-12 can have a modifier effect of the disease, delaying the development of symptoms with a significant impact on the cognitive ability of patients. So far 12 NP has been administered to more than 140 healthy volunteers, and last December Phase II clinical trials in patients were initiated.

There is a new family of marine-derived compounds that show potent protective activity of neurons against various toxic stimuli in Noscira’s portfolio of compounds. The prevention of neuronal death is one of the most promising strategies to slow the progression of many neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction and the disruption of cell homeostasis are common.

About Alzheimer's disease
One out of four people over 85 years of age are currently suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Statistics indicates that the incidence of the disease will be increased in the coming years as a result of the progressive aging of the population. Experts believe it is necessary to allocate more resources, not only to healthcare for the elderly but primarily to research, for the development early detection methods and to drugs able to delay the development of symptoms, restore neuronal function and prevent neuronal death rather than replacing neurotransmitters, which is how current drugs are working.