Pain trial dosing and new directors at Phosphagenics
Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) has commenced dosing in a phase 2 clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of the drug delivery company’s TPM/oxycodone patch in patients suffering post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication of shingles which is “poorly managed” by current treatment options, according to chief scientific officer Dr Paul Gavin.
“Our objective is to develop a product that provides local pain relief to PHN sufferers and avoid the typical opioid-related systemic side effects associated with conventional opioid administration,” said Dr Gavin.
“At present, there are no FDA-approved topical opioids for PHN,” he continued. “We see the TPM/oxycodone patch as a unique product with great potential in PHN and several other indications.”
The double-blind, randomised crossover trial is being conducted at five sites across Australia: Melbourne’s Nucleus Network facility, Newcastle’s Hunter Clinical Research facility and Sydney’s Westmead, Royal North Shore and St Vincent’s hospitals. It is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.
The company has separately announced the appointment of three new directors to its board: Dr Greg Collier, Peter Lankau and Dr Ross Murdoch (the company’s CEO). The directors have been welcomed by Phosphagenics Chairman Lawrence Gozlan, who said their skill set will be “invaluable in optimising commercial outcomes for Phosphagenics’ TPM platform technology”.
Dr Collier has more than 20 years’ experience spanning operational, clinical and scientific aspects of pharmaceutical research, development and commercialisation. He is currently the CEO of drug development company Invion.
Lankau served as the chief operating officer of pharmaceutical company Endo Pharmaceuticals from 2003 to 2005 and as its CEO from 2005 to 2008. In recent years he has served on multiple company boards.
Dr Murdoch has over 25 years’ experience in the global healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech industries and has held senior and executive positions with pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Astra Zeneca and Shire Pharmaceuticals. He was appointed CEO of Phosphagenics in January this year.
Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) shares were trading 14.29% higher at $0.032 as of around noon on Friday.
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