Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals Extends Phaxan™ Patent Portfolio With Divisional Patents Granted For Other Neuroactive Steroids

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: July 21, 2014—Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (Drawbridge) is pleased to announce that divisional patents have been granted in Australia and the UK, relating to a variety of neuroactive steroid anaesthetic/sedative compounds.

Drawbridge's patent portfolio contains patents granted in US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and China for Phaxan™ anaesthesia and sedation. The addition of the newly granted divisional patents in Australia and the UK to this portfolio extends the coverage to the use of a larger group of neuroactive steroids and preparations for sedation and anaesthesia in critical care situations.

“Neuroactive steroids are compounds that target the central nervous systems natural control circuits normally regulated by hormones progesterone, allopregnanolone and their metabolites. Targeting the natural pathways with our compounds offers a variety of useful therapies in critical care situations with compounds that have an inherent high safety profile,” said Professor Goodchild, Chief Medical Officer at Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals.

The company has recently completed a proof-of-concept clinical trial comparing the anaesthetic properties of Phaxan™ with propofol, which is the agent most commonly used for intravenous anaesthesia. The results of this study were extremely positive, confirming that Phaxan™ is as fast as propofol in onset and offset of anaesthesia with better cardiovascular and respiratory safety.

“The granting of these divisional patents adds significant value to the company extending coverage to a larger group of compounds for sedation and anaesthesia in critical care situations with coverage to 2031,” said Dr Anthony Filippis, CEO at Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals.

Sky Business news recently interviewed Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals to discuss the company’s commercialisation strategy for Phaxan™. Click here to watch this segment.

About Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals

Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2011 and is a privately-held biotechnology company, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The company is developing innovative neuroactive steroid compounds for use in critical care situations. Phaxan™ is the lead compound for use as a fast onset and offset intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative.

www.drawbridgepharmaceuticals.com.au
https://twitter.com/DrawbridgePharm

About Phaxan™

Phaxan™ is a novel water based formulation of the neuroactive steroid, alphaxalone. It has a wide therapeutic index. Phaxan™ is an efficacious intravenous anaesthetic with rapid onset and offset of action. The anaesthetic agent in Phaxan™ has been administered in the past as Althesin® when formulated in a different excipient. It was withdrawn in 1984 because of problems with the formulation. Phaxan™ does not have the problems of the Althesin® formulation and it’s superiority in safety compared with propofol,demonstrated in preclinical models, has recently been confirmed in a proof of concept clinical trial.

Phaxan™ is a registered trade mark for alphaxalone formulated in sulfobutyl ether beta cyclodextrin being developed by Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals.

Dr Anthony Filippis and Prof. Colin Goodchild are available for interviews

Media enquiries:
Christine Filippis, Mendleson Communication: ph 61 3 9421 6520, email christine@mendleson.com.au

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