Zalicus Inc. Initiates the Second of Two Phase 2a Studies With Z160

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLCS), a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain, today announced that it has initiated the second of two Phase 2a clinical studies with Z160, its first-in-class, oral, state-dependent, selective N-type (Cav2.2) calcium channel blocker for the potential treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. The Company also provided an overview of 2012 accomplishments. Z160 is designed to selectively target neuronal pain signaling by modulating neurons that are undergoing high-frequency firing. Z160 has demonstrated efficacy in several animal models of neuropathic pain, and clinical trials in over 200 subjects have established Z160 as a safe and well tolerated drug candidate.