ALT Ishares Diversified Alternatives Trust

Alteon's Alagebrium Demonstrates Promising Effects on Cardiovascular System in Phase 2a Endothelial Function Study Data Presented at Annual Scientific Meetings of The American Geriatrics Society and The Society of Geriatric Cardiology PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alteon Inc. (AMEX:ALT) announced today that positive data from the initial group of patients in a Phase 2a study on endothelial function and vascular compliance were presented recently at two scientific forums: The American Geriatrics Society 2005 Annual Scientific Meeting and the 11th Annual Scientific Session of The Society of Geriatric Cardiology. The study, conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHU), demonstrated that the company's investigational drug, alagebrium, increases arterial elasticity through the breaking of A.G.E. crosslinks and improves endothelial function. As central arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the authors conclude that these effects may favorably modify cardiovascular risk in older hypertensive subjects. The study, presented under the titles, "Treatment with Alagebrium, a Collagen Glycation Crosslink Breaker, Reduces Carotid Pressure Augmentation in Older Subjects with Isolated Systolic Hypertension," and "The Effect of Vascular Stiffness on Endothelial Dysfunction," was conducted under grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Society of Geriatric Cardiology/Association of Subspecialty Professors by a JHU research team led by Susan Zieman, M.D. and David Kass, M.D. Male or female patients 50 years of age or greater (n=13), with systolic hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 140 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure < / = 95 mm Hg) received 2 weeks of placebo run-in dosing followed by 210 mg of alagebrium twice daily for 8 weeks. The primary purpose of the trial was to determine whether increasing arterial elasticity by breaking A.G.E. crosslinks improves endothelial function as assessed by evaluating vessel distensibility and flow-mediated dilation, a dynamic test of endothelial cell function. Results from the pilot study showed that, when compared with baseline, carotid augmentation index, a measure of vascular stiffness, decreased by 37.3% and augmented pressure declined 41% (p