Phosphagenics gets ethics nod for pain patch trial

Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) has been given the nod to return to the clinic with its redesigned pain patch TPM-oxycodone.

The company has received ethics approval to commence a clinical trial of the revamped patch at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s CMAX facility.

Phosphagenics CEO Dr Esra Ogru said the company expects results from the trial at the beginning of Q3.

“Returning to the clinic with our oxycodone patch technology is an important milestone in progressing our pain patch clinical programs during 2013,” he said.

In May last year, Phosphagenics contracted Germany’s Labtec to help design the final specifications for the TPM/oxycodone patch. The original commercial candidate had minor crystallisation problems associated with the ratio between solvent and adhesive in the patch design.

By this February, Phosphagenics and Labtec had solved these issues and commenced preparations for a new clinical trial.

TPM-oxycodone is designed using Phosphagenics’ Targeted Penetration Matrix drug delivery technology. The company recently announced plans to expand its opioid pain patch program. The first product to come out of this expansion, TPM-oxymorphone, cleared phase I trials in March.

Phosphagenics is also using its TPM technology for anti-inflammatory patch TPM-diclofenac. Last week, the company commenced licensing negotiations for the product with Japan’s Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical.

Phosphagenics shares were trading 4.17% higher at $0.125 as of around 1.30 pm on Friday.