Marvel Biosciences Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marvel Biotechnology Inc. announced that it has initiated the 4-week good laboratory practice (GLP) FDA investigational new drug (IND) enabling dose-ranging rat studies for its lead drug candidate MB-204. In the United States, it is estimated that one in ten senior citizens over the age of 65 suffer from dementia.

MB-204 is a novel solution to Alzheimer's that has similar properties to the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, Istradefylline. MB-204 has, through the Company's studies, proven to be more effective and longer lasting than Istradefylline in pre-clinical studies. MB-204 is a fluorinated derivative of the U.S. FDA-approved adenosine A2a receptor antagonist, Istradefylline.

Both Istradefylline and MB-204 are highly active derivatives of caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world. Caffeine consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease and improved concentration.