Cortex's AMPAKINE(R) Research in Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression Makes Windhover's Top 10 List of Neuroscience Projects Available for Partnering
Thursday October 9, 1:47 pm ET
Mark Varney, CEO, To Discuss How CX717 May Provide Superior Pain Management for Post-Surgical Patients Based On Recent Clinical Study Data
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US (COR)) announced that Mark Varney, Ph.D., President & CEO, will present at the Windhover Information’s 3rd Annual Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference to be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel on November 3-5, 2008.
The selection committee included Marc Wortman, Ph.D., associated with Windhover’s In Vivo and Start Up publication and Dr. Harry Tracy, President of NeuroInvestment, a leading independent neuroscience analyst. “Selected companies were evaluated using a strict set of judging criteria and represent what our committee considered the most attractive neuroscience opportunities the industry has to offer,” said Roger Longhorn, Managing Director of Windhover Information. After reviewing many promising neuroscience projects, the committee selected Cortex’s AMPAKINE® research program on opioid-induced respiratory depression as one of the Top Ten Projects for potential licensing. Acute post-operative respiratory depression extends hospital stays and is associated with a disproportional mortality rate. As a selected company, Cortex has been invited to make a presentation on its lead Phase II product candidate, CX717.
Dr. Varney commented, “Being selected as one of the Top 10 Neuroscience Projects by Windhover Information is a great honor and tangible evidence of what has been accomplished over the past 14 months with our AMPAKINE program. We are all excited about the results seen to date with CX717 that indicate the compound may optimize pain management with opioids without exposing surgical patients to the increased risk of respiratory depression.”
The web-link for the conference is listed below:
windhover.com TA08&utm_mediu
(Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
CX717 is an AMPAKINE molecule with good safety and efficacy. Earlier this week, Cortex issued a press release reporting the second positive Phase IIa, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized two-way crossover trial. In this study, a single oral 1500 mg dose of CX717 was administered two hours before the infusion of the potent opioid, alfentanil. CX17 prevented the reduction in basal breathing rate induced by the opioid in comparison to placebo (p = 0.005). The degree of the reversal of the basal respiratory rate was similar to that obtained with the standard opioid antagonist, naloxone. At the same time, the analgesic properties of alfentanil were maintained in an acute pain model in the presence of CX717. The trial was performed by one of the leading experts in the field, Professor Jörn Lötsch at the Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt, Germany.
About Windhover
Windhover Information Inc (www.windhover.com), an Elsevier company, has led the field in providing analysis of the healthcare industry to decision-makers at all levels since the founding of its flagship publication, IN VIVO, the Business & Medicine Report, in 1983. Windhover provides its information and analysis in many formats, including print, electronic databases, international conferences and webinars.
About Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Cortex, located in Irvine, California, is a neuroscience company focused on novel drug therapies for treating psychiatric disorders, neurological diseases and brain mediated breathing disorders. Cortex is pioneering a class of proprietary pharmaceuticals called AMPAKINE compounds, which act to increase the strength of signals at connections between brain cells. The loss of these connections is thought to be responsible for memory and behavior problems in Alzheimer’s disease. Many psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, occur as a result of imbalances in the brain’s neurotransmitter system. These imbalances may be improved by using the AMPAKINE technology. Cortex has an alliance with Schering-Plough Corporation who acquired Cortex’s former partner N.V. Organon in November 2007. As a result of this acquisition, Schering-Plough has two AMPAKINE Phase II compounds Org24448 and Org 26576 for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In December 2006 Cortex terminated the research collaboration with Servier enabling Cortex to pursue the use of AMPAKINE compounds in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases on a global basis. Servier retained the right to select up to three compounds developed during the collaboration for further development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Cortex may receive additional milestones and royalties if either Organon or Servier is successful in developing and commercializing AMPAKINE compounds. For additional information regarding Cortex, please visit Cortex Pharmaceuticals’ website at cortexpharm.com. <snip> |
