Zalicus Inc. Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Z160

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLCS) a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain and immuno-inflammatory diseases today announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the pharmacokinetics and safety of a new formulation of Z160 (formerly NMED-160), a novel oral N-type calcium channel blocker. Z160 has been reformulated with multiple state-of-the-art delivery techniques to address previous solubility and bioavailability issues. Zalicus plans to run Phase 1 human pharmacokinetic and safety studies with these formulations during the remainder of 2011 and into early 2012. Based on this pharmacokinetic and safety data, Zalicus plans to select the best formulation to advance into Phase 2 clinical development in 2012. A previous formulation of Z160 has been studied in clinical trials of over 200 subjects and was well tolerated.