AlgoRx Announces Initiation of Clinical Studies for Pain Treatment ALGRX 4975 - Capsaicin for Injection.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K CRANBURY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2003 AlgoRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company with world-class expertise in the development of pain therapeutics, announced today the initiation of clinical trials for ALGRX 4975, capsaicin capsaicin /cap·sa·i·cin/ (kap-sa´i-sin) an alkaloid irritating to the skin and mucous membranes, the active ingredient of capsicum; used as a topical counterirritant and analgesic. cap·sa·i·cin n. for injection. ALGRX 4975 will be evaluated for the treatment of localized, intractable pain intractable pain Refractory pain Pain medicine Persistent pain which does not respond to at least 3 dosease of parenteral analgesics given over a 12-24 hr period; pain that does not respond to appropriate doses of opioid analgesics. , a syndrome of severe, inadequately treated pain commonly associated with advanced osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. , tendonitis tendonitis /ten·do·ni·tis/ (ten?do-ni´tis) tendinitis. ten·do·ni·tis n. Variant of tendinitis. , certain post-surgical conditions, and other localized sources of chronic pain. "ALGRX 4975 holds significant promise in the treatment of localized intractable pain, a significant market opportunity," said Dr. Ronald Burch, AlgoRx's President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "Its rapid and efficient progress from licensing candidate into clinical studies demonstrates the strength of our business strategy and management team." The clinical plan for ALGRX 4975 will focus on bringing sustained pain relief to patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, tendonitis, and painful post-surgical conditions, such as bunionectomy. These conditions are not adequately treated with currently available medications and represent market opportunities of several hundred million dollars. Osteoarthritis of the knee, for example, is a poorly treated condition that afflicts over one million people in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , with available therapy being injectable in·ject·a·ble adj. Capable of being injected. Used of a drug. n. A drug or medicine that can be injected. "lubricants" for early mild disease and ultimately knee replacement in the most severe cases. ALGRX 4975 was in-licensed in August 2001 from Dr. James Campbell and colleagues of The Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University, mainly at Baltimore, Md. Johns Hopkins in 1867 had a group of his associates incorporated as the trustees of a university and a hospital, endowing each with $3.5 million. Daniel C. , where it had been the subject of clinical trials under investigator INDs. Following successful AlgoRx-sponsored formulation and preclinical development, clinical trials were initiated in December 2002. In the first study, ALGRX 4975 is injected into the knees of subjects with advanced osteoarthritis. Trial completion is expected in 2Q 2003. AlgoRx Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Cranbury N.J., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on successfully bringing pain management products to market in areas of unmet need. AlgoRx has assembled an expert team with substantial experience in the pain sector to identify, acquire and rapidly develop its products. AlgoRx's late stage pipeline consists of both conventional drug candidates and novel formulations of existing drugs. ALGRX 3268 and ALGRX 4975 are in clinical trials. AlgoRx, a private venture stage company, was formed in April 2001, and has raised $34 million to date. For additional information, please see www.algorx.com |
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