Avicena Files Composition Of Matter Patent Application For Treatment Of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Avicena Group,
Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AVGOE), a late stage biotechnology company
focused on commercializing its proprietary cellular energy modulation
technology, announced today that it has filed a composition of matter
patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), a severe
neurodegenerative disease.



This composition of matter patent broadly covers pharmaceutical
formulations based on creatine derivatives alone or in combination with an
anti-inflammatory compound for the treatment of ALS. The Company believes
that this patent will provide additional IP protection for its current and
future generation drug candidates formulated to treat ALS which extends
beyond the existing use patents previously issued to Avicena with claims in
neurology (US Patents 6,196,115 B1 and 6,706,764 B2). This application will
further extend Avicena's intellectual property portfolio for ALS-02, a drug
candidate that has previously been granted orphan drug designation by the
US FDA.



Belinda Tsao-Nivaggioli, Ph.D., CEO of Avicena, stated, "This patent
application is another key intellectual property milestone that builds
shareholder value and will help us further protect the Company's cellular
energy franchise and the drug candidates we develop for ALS. ALS remains a
leading indication for our technology, and this additional patent
application will support our commercialization work in this important
therapeutic area."



ABOUT ALS



ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the motor neurons of
the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for voluntary muscle
movement. As these motor neurons degenerate, their ability to send impulses
to the muscle fibers is compromised. The progressive degeneration of motor
neurons eventually leads to neuron death resulting in the brain's inability
to initiate or control muscle movement. Once a patient's muscles no longer
receive the messages that they require to function, muscles begin to
atrophy. With an incidence rate of approximately 1 in 10,000, ALS affects
roughly 30,000 Americans at any given time. Each year, approximately 5,600
new cases of ALS are diagnosed. The two types of ALS are "sporadic ALS,"
which accounts for approximately 85% - 90% of all cases; and "familial
ALS," which accounts for the remaining 10% - 15% of patents.



ABOUT AVICENA



Avicena Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AVGOE) is a late stage
biotechnology company focused on developing products based on its
proprietary understanding of the regulation of cellular energy processes.
The company's core technologies, supported by a robust IP portfolio, have
broad applications in both pharmaceuticals and dermaceuticals. Avicena's
pharmaceutical program centers on rare neurological disorders (orphan
diseases). The company is currently analyzing data from its Phase IIb/III
trial in ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease). Near
term, Avicena intends to initiate a Phase III trial in Huntington's disease
to accompany its on-going Phase III trial in Parkinson's disease. Avicena's
science is well established and its products are safe and well tolerated.
Unlike traditional biotechnology companies, Avicena's clinical programs are
largely funded by government and non-profit organizations. Avicena
presently derives revenue from the sale of proprietary ingredients to skin
care manufacturers.
















SAFE HARBOR



This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect,
among other things, management's current expectations, plans and
strategies, and anticipated financial results, all of which are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and factors that may cause our
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. Many of these risks are beyond our
ability to control or predict. See "Risk Factors" under "Item 6.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation" from our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2005, and other descriptions in the company's public filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of such risks,
including the company's need for additional funds, the company's dependence
on a limited number of therapeutic compounds, the stage of the products the
company is developing, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and
regulatory reviews, competition and dependence on collaborative partners,
the company's ability to avoid infringement of the patent rights of others,
and the company's ability to obtain adequate patent protection and to
enforce these rights. Because of these risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date they are made. Avicena does not undertake any obligation to update or
review any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


Avicena Group, Inc.

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