MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: September 15, 2014—Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (Drawbridge) is pleased to announce that it will be presenting the results of the first in human study of Phaxan™ at Anesthesiology™ 2014 in New Orleans, LA. Oral and poster presentations will be delivered by Professor Colin Goodchild, Chief Medical Officer at Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals who has also been appointed an Online Community Ambassador at the conference.
This proof of concept clinical study was recently conducted by Drawbridge to compare the anaesthetic properties of Phaxan™ with propofol and showed exciting results. “We were very pleased to see that Phaxan™ proved to be an effective fast-onset, short acting intravenous anaesthetic equal to propofol with a greater safety profile,” said Professor Goodchild. Furthermore, Phaxan™ caused less depression of blood pressure and respiratory control compared with propofol; these differences were highly significant; added Professor Goodchild.
The clinical study also showed that Phaxan™ caused no pain on injection while propofol caused pain and discomfort on injection in more than 50 percent of subjects. Phaxan™ caused no nausea and involuntary muscle movements occurred only in the propofol treated group. Cognitive function was preserved after Phaxan™ anaesthesia; an effect significantly better than with propofol. The details of these findings will be presented at Anesthesiology 2014 (details below).
Professor Goodchild will also present the clinical findings at the International Society for Anaesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP - http://www.isaponline.org/ ) immediately prior to Anesthesiology™ 2014.
“We are excited to present our clinical findings at Anesthesiology 2014. Drawbridge is currently engaged in active discussions with potential partners regarding the further development of Phaxan™ and we are confident that Phaxan™ will be successfully commercialised in the near future,” said Dr Anthony Filippis, Chief Executive Officer at Drawbridge.
Anesthesiology™ 2014 will be held from October 11-15 in New Orleans, LA
The details of Professor Goodchild’s presentations at Anesthesiology™ 2014 are as follows:
Digital Substitution Test reveals preservation of cognitive reserve after Phaxan™ but not after Propofol anaesthesia
Poster Presentation, A2090, Monitor 1
Sunday, October 12, 2014, 9:30-10:00 AM
Hall B1-Area C
Phase 1c trial comparing the anaesthetic properties of Phaxan™ and Propofol
Oral Presentation
Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Room 245
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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