Relevare Pharmaceuticals Presents Latest Clinical Trial Data on CNSB015 at Third International Congress on Neuropathic Pain in Athens, Greece
MELBOURNE, Australia and SAN FRANCISCO, May 28 /PRNewswire/ --
Relevare Pharmaceuticals Ltd. will present its recent Phase IIa
proof-of-concept clinical trial data and extension study results
for CNSB015 (flupirtine), its lead repositioned compound, at the
Third International Congress on Neuropathic Pain on May 27 -30 in
Athens, Greece.
Dr. Kate Cherry, MD, PhD, Head of the Neuropathy and Drug
Toxicity Group at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, Australia will
share the results of the Company's Phase IIa trial, entitled,
"Flupirtine as an adjunct to opioid analgesia in HIV neuropathy
pain" during the Conference's Poster Session on Friday, May 28,
2010.
The results of the recently completed 12-month open-label
extension study to be presented by Dr Cherry provide further
evidence of the safety and efficacy of flupirtine. In particular,
the data indicate clinically relevant improvements for the patients
involved in the study in terms of both pain relief and quality of
life (mean reductions in BPI Pain Severity and Pain Interference
Indices of approximately 30%) when flupirtine is given as an
adjunct to opioids.
Flupirtine is orally administered, and used in combination with
opioids for the treatment of neuropathic pain. It works by opening
potassium channels in the spinal cord and reducing responsiveness
and sensitivity to pain signals. Flupirtine may also prevent and/or
reverse the development of tolerance to opioid drugs, delivering
long-term efficacy of flupirtine/opioid combination therapies
without the need to increase dosage.
Mark Blumling, Managing Director of Relevare Pharmaceuticals
said: "Flupirtine has been used safely as an analgesic in Germany
for over 20 years, and we are pleased with the results of this
extension study, which focused on the hard to treat area of painful
HIV neuropathy."
The Alfred Hospital has guaranteed funding for the ongoing
supply of flupirtine for all patients who completed the open-label
study, under the TGA Special Access Scheme. Patients who completed
the open-label study at St Vincent's Hospital are also continuing
treatment with flupirtine via the Alfred Hospital.
"There is significant is demand for new treatment options among
patients with neuropathic pain resulting from conditions such as
HIV, cancer and diabetes. We look forward to commencing a 300
patient phase IIb/III trial later this year with patients in Europe
and Australia who suffer from opioid resistant cancer pain," he
said.
About Relevare Pharmaceuticals
Relevare Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company
focused on developing and commercialising treatments for people
experiencing moderate and severe pain that results from diseases
such as cancer, diabetes and HIV.
Relevare Pharmaceuticals is in the later stages of development
for its lead repositioned compound CNSB015 (flupirtine), which is
used in combination with opioids for the treatment of neuropathic
pain (defined as pain associated with a functional abnormality of
the nervous system). Currently, there are no approved drugs in the
United States, or in much of the world, for either of the Company's
initial target markets - neuropathic cancer pain and painful HIV
sensory neuropathy. This creates a compelling, multi-billion dollar
market opportunity for the successful commercialisation of Relevare
Pharmaceutical's lead product, CNSB015.
Source: Relevare Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
CONTACT: Anne Wickham, + 61 419 185 664, awickham@boxingclever.net.au,
for Relevare Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Posted: June 2010
