Spinifex’s EMA401 Named One of the Top Ten Neuroscience Projects to Watch
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Spinifex Pharmaceuticals has announced that CEO Tom McCarthy will present at Elsevier Business Intelligence’s 2013 Therapeutic Area Partnerships (18-20 November in Boston, USA).
Dr McCarthy’s presentation will give an overview of the Company’s lead candidate, EMA401, which is a novel angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist under development as a potential first-in-class oral treatment for chronic pain without CNS side effects.
EMA401 has been selected as an Elsevier Top Ten Neuroscience Project to Watch, representing one of the most attractive investment opportunities in the industry.
The rigorous judging criteria included unmet medical need, market potential, diversity of indications, strong science, multi-level partnering opportunities and potential for new opportunities beyond initial indications and corporate stability.
Spinifex Pharmaceuticals has reported positive headline results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of EMA401 in post herpetic neuralgia, a painful condition that develops in some patients following herpes zoster (shingles) and where existing therapy does not relieve pain in all individuals.
The clinical trial met its primary endpoint, reduction in mean daily pain score versus placebo over the last week of 28 days of treatment.
Results showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in mean pain intensity from baseline to week 4 for subjects on active treatment when compared with placebo.
EMA401 was generally safe and well tolerated with no serious treatment related adverse events reported. Full results of the Phase 2 trial are expected to be published in a leading clinical research journal.
Spinifex Pharmaceuticals’ CEO Tom McCarthy said: “We are honoured that EMA401 has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Neuroscience Projects to Watch by Elsevier and look forward to presenting the development program at the Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference. Despite being a large and growing market, current therapy for chronic pain needs to be improved as a significant proportion of patients don’t respond to current therapy and these treatments have dose limiting side effects.
“Our results so far are promising, showing a clear reduction in pain versus placebo and a good safety and tolerability profile. EMA401 offers an entirely novel approach and could eventually represent a valuable new treatment option in an area where there is a clear need for new medicines.”
