Acrux's Igor Gonda and Nina Wilkins Join Experts on Pain and Reproductive Health Panels At BIO CEO
February 08 2006 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Acrux Limited (ASX: ACR), a Melbourne, Australia-based
pharmaceutical company which has developed an innovative
transdermal drug delivery system, announced today that two senior
executives will be presenting on panels at the upcoming BIO CEO
conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Acrux CEO Dr. Igor
Gonda will join a panel of CEOs and pain experts to discuss the
latest developments in pain relief. Dr. Nina Wilkins, who manages
Acrux's intellectual property and business development, will
discuss latest developments in reproductive health for men and
women on a panel called "What's New in Sexual/Gender Health." Both
panels are at 4 p.m. (U.S. EST) on February 14. "Cure the Pain" Dr.
Gonda's panel, titled "Cure the Pain," will address key factors
driving the growing demand for pain medication, including aging
populations, greater use of strong pain drugs in emerging markets
and concerns surrounding side effects and inadequate efficacy of
existing treatments. Gonda's presentation will focus on his
company's work with fentanyl, a potent and widely used medication
to treat chronic pain caused by cancer, arthritis and back injury.
"Transdermal fentanyl--in a 3-day patch--has become a key tool in
the management of pain, with annual sales totalling more than $2
billion worldwide," said Gonda. "With Acrux's unique Patchless
Patch(R) delivery system, we are developing a transdermal
alternative to the traditional patch that provides the same
advantages, and offers other benefits--such as dosing flexibility
for more precise pain control, while avoiding some of the
risks--such as skin irritation and residual drug." With Acrux's
delivery system, Fentanyl UDTS(TM), a patient would use a simple
applicator to apply a single dose of quick-drying fentanyl
formulation to the skin which rapidly creates an invisible,
non-irritating reservoir of the medication within the skin. The
fentanyl then slowly diffuses into the bloodstream throughout the
day. With this application method, dosing frequency can be varied
to control pain more effectively. Fentanyl UDTS(TM) has had
positive results in its Phase 1 trials and Acrux is funding
additional small trials in Australia to gather further valuable
data on the product, before securing a commercial partner for Phase
3 trials and marketing. "What's New In Sexual/Gender Health?" Dr.
Wilkins' panel will look at the current climate and recent
advancements in the multi-billion dollar reproductive health
market. With FDA warnings about possible adverse effects from
blockbuster male "gender health" drugs, such as Viagra, Cialis, and
Levitra inspiring caution, safe new therapies and technologies for
reproductive health will be highly prized. Approximately 13 million
men in the U.S. today experience testosterone deficiency and
researchers are now also investigating new treatments for women's
arousal and desire. Acrux is at the forefront of this exciting and
growing area, with three women's health products and one men's
health product in development using the company's transdermal
delivery system. "Our vision is that Acrux's once-a-day skin sprays
will become a familiar and preferred means of treatment for women
throughout their lives," said Wilkins. "Our contraceptive, our
treatment for decreased libido and our treatment for menopausal
symptoms are all in clinical development, with the first product
nearing completion of Phase 3 in the USA. We are also developing a
novel patient-friendly lotion for men faced with testosterone
deficiency." Acrux's transdermal drug delivery system consists of
three proprietary components: -- MDTS(R) applicator--a small,
hand-held, easy-to-use applicator that is designed to provide an
easy and convenient means to deliver a preset dose of a therapeutic
drug onto the skin -- ACROSS(R) penetration enhancers--commonly
used safe, non-irritating materials, with properties that enable
transport of the drug through the skin. -- Patchless Patch(R)--the
drug delivery method itself, whereby a fast-drying formulation
forms an invisible reservoir of the drug and enhancer in the outer
layer of the skin, from which the drug is slowly released into the
bloodstream. "We are delighted to be invited to take part in the
BIO CEO panels and look forward to some valuable insights into
treatment options for patients in both these exciting areas.
Acrux's participation reflects the breadth of our product pipeline
and its advanced stage of development," said Gonda. About Acrux
(www.acrux.com.au): -- Acrux is a specialty pharmaceutical company,
developing and commercializing a range of patented,
patient-preferred healthcare products for global markets, using its
innovative technology to administer drugs through the skin. --
Acrux's product pipeline includes treatments of hormonal
deficiencies, pain and central nervous system disorders, as well as
a contraceptive. -- The company has completed 20 human clinical
trials with 8 different drug products. The lead product,
Evamist(TM) (Estradiol MDTS(R)), is currently in a phase three
clinical trial in the USA. -- Acrux has licensed USA rights for
Evamist(TM) (Estradiol MDTS(R)) and Testosterone MDTS(R) to VIVUS
and AUS/NZ distribution rights for Testosterone MDTS(R) and
Fentanyl UDTS(TM) to CSL Limited. Acrux has also licensed its
technology to Eli Lilly for veterinary healthcare products.
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