MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. Enrolls Patients in its Phase IIB Clinical Study for the Treatment of Onychomycosis (Toenail Fungus)

(Bothell, WA - 4 January 2006). MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it is enrolling patients in its U.S. Phase IIB clinical study for treating onychomycosis, more commonly known as toenail fungus. The therapeutic agents, which are FDA-approved anti-fungal agents, are formulated into MediQuest's own proprietary organogel drug delivery system, for topical application to the infected toenails. This formulation has shown effective delivery of the therapeutic agents through the nail and minimizes the systemic side effects commonly associated with oral administration of these anti-fungal agents.

More than thirty million people in the United States suffer from onychomycosis. Many of these patients are older people, especially those with peripheral arterial disease and those with autoimmune diseases. Onychomycosis refers to the invasion of the nail plate by a fungus. The infection may be due to a dermatophyte, yeast, or nondermatophyte mold. The term "tinea unguium" is used specifically to describe invasive dermatophytic onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis has been shown to exert an impact on the life of affected individuals. They are most often unwilling to show their feet to avoid social embarrassment. Without effective treatment, the infection continues to grow and may even be spread to others. Therefore, this is an infection that needs to be treated.

The purpose of the study is to compare the subject's response to two antifungal agents, naftifine or terbinafine, administered topically within MediQuest's proprietary organogel formulation. This formulation has been shown in earlier studies to facilitate the penetration of the anti-fungal agents through fungally-infected nails. This study will examine dose-response and agent differences in terms of efficacy and safety.