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 publication of preclinical data in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The paper describes the activity of Z944, a novel oral highly-selective small molecule T-type calcium channel blocker, currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of inflammatory pain. In this study, Z944 was shown to potently suppress seizures in a preclinical model by 85 to 90%. The ability of Z944 to inhibit and reduce the duration and cycle frequency of seizures suggests a unique mechanism of action distinct from current anti-epileptic drugs in clinical practice. Zalicus has utilized its ion channel discovery platform and scientific expertise to develop a pipeline of novel, orally active compounds targeting critical N-type and T-type calcium and selected sodium channels implicated in chronic pain.
