Drawbridge anaesthetic trial accepted for publication

Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals has announced the imminent publication of its phase 1c proof-of-concept clinical trial of Phaxan, a fast onset and offset intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative, in the medical journal Anesthesia and Analgesia. The paper details the successful outcome of the randomised, double-blind trial; the first study in humans comparing Phaxan with the anaesthetic propofol.

Clinical and preclinical trials establish that Phaxan, a water-based formulation of alphaxalone, features similar onset and offset of sedation compared to propofol and rapid recovery in cognitive function - but without causing any pain on injection or emergence delirium. Two additional editorials, published in the same edition of the journal, highlight the translation of the properties of Phaxan described in the preclinical studies into the proof-of-concept clinical study in humans.

In a piece addressing neurosteroid anaesthetics, including alphaxalone, Drs Evan Kharasch and Markus Hollmann suggest that alphaxalone-cyclodextrin (Phaxan) “may be a better alphaxalone than alphaxalone-Cremophor”. The authors go on to ponder whether Phaxan will be a better anaesthetic than propofol.

Drawbridge CEO Dr Anthony Filippis said his company has always been confident that Phaxan could serve as a safer alternative to propofol. He noted, “Publication of the two seminal papers that signify the translation of Phaxan from concept to clinic endorses our goals of continued commercial development of Phaxan towards widespread use in all critical care areas.”