Press Release
NeurogesX Studies Show Single 1-Hour Dermal Application Results in 12 Weeks of Sustained Neuropathic Pain Reduction
Substantial Pain Decreases in Postherpetic Neuralgia and Painful HIV-Associated Neuropathy Patients. Presented at the American Academy of Neurology.San Carlos, Calif. - April 29, 2004
NeurogesX, Inc. announced today results from a multi-centered Phase II study that showed 12 weeks of sustained reduction in neuropathic pain from a single, one-hour dermal patch application of NeurogesX’s novel trans-capsaicin dermal delivery system. The open label extension study of NGX-4010 was for patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
The previous double-blind controlled study of NGX-4010 presented at the American Academy of Neurology in 2003 demonstrated that a single, one-hour application of a trans-capsaicin dermal patch provided a 33% reduction in pain scores over the course of four weeks, compared to 4% with control treatment. The objective of this open-label extension study was to assess the reduction in pain beyond 4 weeks and to obtain data on the efficacy of repeated treatments.
Study results show that the treatment effects seen in the original study are sustained for 12 weeks. Much longer pain relief, up to one year, has been seen in individual subjects. Repeated treatments provide similar decreases in pain intensity and have a comparable duration of action to the initial treatment. No safety or tolerability issues were identified. These results were presented today at the American Academy of Neurology Meeting in San Francisco by Dr. Misha-Miroslav Backonja, Professor of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, and a principal investigator for the study.
" These results are extremely exciting because they provide evidence that a new topical treatment for neuropathic pain has the potential to provide significant pain reduction for three months without any significant safety issues," said Dr. Backonja. "We are looking forward to the results from two large, controlled Phase III trials that recently completed enrollment to confirm these findings"
At the same conference, results from an open-label, multi-center study evaluating NGX-4010 in patients with painful HIV-associated neuropathy were presented by Dr. David Simpson, Professor of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and a principal investigator for the study. The study showed a mean decrease in pain intensity of 40 percent that remained stable for 12 weeks from a single, one-hour application.
About NeurogesX
NeurogesX (neur-o-GEE-six) is a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel treatments for improved relief of neuropathic pain and improved quality of life for neuropathic pain patients using advanced neuroscience insights and innovative delivery technologies. The company’s initial products are focused on the treatment of chronic and acute pain.
NeurogesX has raised approximately $65 million in total equity investments. Investors in NeurogesX include Alta Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Diamond Capital Management, Global Life Science Ventures, Montreux Equity Partners, TIAA-CREFF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association), University of North Carolina, Walden International Venture Partners, and others. For more information about NeurogesX, go to www.neurogesx.com.
NeurogesX is a trademark of NeurogesX, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective companies
Contacts:
Anthony A. DiTonno
CEO and President
NeurogesX, Inc.
aditonno@neurogesx.com
650-508-2116
Stephen F Ghiglieri
CFO
NeurogesX, Inc.
sghiglieri@neurogesx.com
650-508-2116
Mike Jackman
Jackman Communications
mike@jackman.com
415-388-3216