RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Targeted Markets iCo-007 - Diabetes-Related Blindness ~$3B+.iCo Therapeutics ICO-TSX.v So what exactly does iCo Therapeutics have in their pipeline that’s got me so excited? iCo has exclusive worldwide rights to three products: iCo-007 is for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). DME is the swelling of the retina in diabetes patients due to leaking blood vessels within the macula, the central portion of the retina that is critical for daytime vision. There are currently no approved therapeutics for DME, the leading cause of blindness in working age adults. DME affects approximately 1.6 million people in the U.S. alone, a number that is expected to grow as Diabetes is forecast to increase by almost 50% in the US by 2025. Designed and discovered by ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc., (NASDAQ: ISIS), iCo-007 is a second-generation antisense inhibitor for the treatment of DME and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). iCo licensed the worldwide exclusive rights to all therapeutic applications of iCo007 from ISIS in 2005. Drug products that prevent the growth of new blood vessels and inhibit increased vascular permeability may have the potential to treat neovascular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. iCo-008 is being developed for severe ocular allergies. During an allergic response the levels of eotaxin-1 are elevated. This attracts eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, into tissues where they can degranulate causing tissue damage that occurs in a variety of allergic disorders. This condition, known as eosinophilia, can occur in a number of disorders, such as allergic ocular disease of conjunctiva and cornea (conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis), asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease. Blocking eotaxin-1 was shown to be effective in inhibiting early phase mast cell activation as well as late phase eosinophilia. This broad spectrum mechanism of action is unique and differentiates iCo-008 from other available agents. iCo-009 is an oral reformulation of Amphotericin B for sight and life threatening diseases. iCo-009 also represents a new drug delivery technology with the potential to reprofile other IV administered drugs to the oral route of administration. June 25, 2009 - iCo Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: ICO) is pleased to announce that iCo’s oral Amphotericin B (AmpB) oral formulation “iCo-009” has been published in a leading journal, The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The article represents the first ever publication of an oral AmpB eradicating the parasite responsible for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), which affects 12 million people worldwide. Administration of the highest dose of iCo-009 resulted in 99.8% inhibition of the parasite. AmpB has for many years been the gold standard for systemic antifungal drugs. AmpB formulated for IV use remains one of the most effective agents in the treatment of systemic fungal infections, yet no oral formulations are currently commercially available. Over the past 50 years, many attempts have been made to formulate AmpB for oral administration, with limited success. The article indicates that with iCo-009, a selfadministered, oral formulation of AmpB is attainable. “This is the first peer-reviewed paper to be published demonstrating eradication of VL with an oral AmpB formulation”, stated Andrew Rae, iCo’s President & CEO. “We are excited to be on the forefront of global health by potentially increasing the quality of life in developing nations. In addition, iCo-009 may benefit immune compromised patients with cancer, organ transplant recipients, diabetics and HIV/AIDS in developed nations.”