BEVERLY, Mass. & HONOLULU, Hawaii--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2006--Elucida Research LLC, a private laboratory in Beverly, Mass., dedicated to independent and innovative biomedical research, and Cardax(TM) Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a drug discovery and development company targeting inflammatory cardiovascular disease, announced today publication of an article in a special edition of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (vol. 47, supplement 1) focusing on the adverse cardiovascular effects of rofecoxib (Vioxx). The article, titled "Rofecoxib Increases Susceptibility of Human LDL and Membrane Lipids to Oxidative Damage: A Mechanism of Cardiotoxicity," demonstrated the ability of astaxanthin, a key metabolite of Cardax(TM), to prevent the pro-oxidant effects of rofecoxib (Vioxx) on lipids. Oxidative damage to membrane lipids and LDL contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis, as well as coronary plaque instability and the incidence of acute coronary syndromes.
