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D-PHARM ANNOUNCES DATA FROM PHASE II STROKE TRIAL

January 5, 2007

D-Pharm has announced the successful completion of the Phase IIb trial for its neuroprotective compound DP-b99 in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients. DP-b99 is a unique neuroprotective drug that addresses an array of damaging processes occurring in the brains of stroke patients.

A significantly higher recovery rate after stroke was found in the DP-b99 treatment group compared with the placebo group. The study also confirmed the excellent safety and tolerability profile of DP-b99. There was no difference in response to DP-b99 treatment between those patients treated within six hours or within six to nine hours following stroke onset confirming the wide therapeutic treatment window for DP-b99.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial enrolled 150 patients with ischemic stroke with a baseline NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 7 to 20. Patients were recruited in 27 centers in Germany, Israel and South Africa. DP-b99 was administered intravenously, up to nine hours following stroke onset. The patient group in the study was stratified into those treated within six hours or within six to nine hours following stroke onset.

The change in NIHSS from day zero to day 90 was found to be significantly higher in the DP-b99 treatment group with moderate to severe stroke at baseline. When all patients were analyzed together, the change of NIHSS was apparent but did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference in response to DP-b99 treatment between those patients treated within six hours or within six to nine hours following stroke onset.

DP-b99 is a new chemical entity that emerged from D-Pharm's proprietary platform technology, Membrane Active Chelators. DP-b99 is a first in class neuroprotective compound, membrane activated lipophilic chelator of zinc, copper and calcium ions. It binds excessive metal ions within cell membranes and thus modulates multiple metal-dependant processes associated with cell damage and death of brain cells in stroke.