QRxPharma pilot study gives good results for MoxDuo

QRxPharma announced today successful completion of its pilot study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of MoxDuo IR (immediate release) capsules in patients with moderate to severe pain following total knee replacement surgery.

When compared at equianalgesic doses with Percocet, the second most widely prescribed opioid in the US, MoxDuo IR demonstrated greater overall tolerability with substantially fewer incidences of moderate to severe nausea, vomiting, constipation and hypotension than Percocet. Scheduled for launch in 2011, MoxDuo IR targets the acute pain market; a $2.5 billion segment of the $7 billion spent annually on prescription opioids in the US.

“This study serves to reinforce earlier clinical findings that showed improved tolerability and again demonstrates the value of our Dual-Opioid platform as MoxDuo IR opens the therapeutic window for treating patients suffering from acute post-surgical pain,” said Dr John Holaday, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, QRxPharma. “We believe the MoxDuo product portfolio, including immediate release, controlled release and intravenous formulations, will significantly improve patient care, providing equal or better analgesia with fewer and/or less intense side effects than current standards of care.”

MoxDuo IR is the first patented analgesic product in the world that consists of two opioid drugs (a fixed ratio of morphine and oxycodone). While many analgesic combination drugs exist that contain opioids with mild pain drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, combination products such as Percocet, which contains an opioid (oxycodone) combined with acetaminophen (like Tylenol) have been the subject of recent FDA scrutiny due to their potential for causing significant adverse effects on liver and gastrointestinal function.

To date, more than 400 patients in six clinical trials have received MoxDuo IR for different forms of post-surgical pain (bunionectomy and total knee replacement). Study results with MoxDuo IR consistently demonstrate fewer side effects than observed with morphine alone, oxycodone alone and now with Percocet.

In this open label trial, each group of patients who experienced moderate to severe post-operative pain following total knee replacement surgery were treated every four to six hours over a 48-hour period. The study enrolled a total of 44 patients at five US clinical research sites.

All primary study objectives were met comparing: (1) the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of MoxDuo IR against control groups of patients receiving Percocet, a frequently used opioid for the treatment of pain; and (2) a flexible dosing regimen of MoxDuo IR against a fixed low dose (3/2mg). Patients receiving the flexible dosing regimen of MoxDuo IR achieved significantly greater pain relief than those receiving the low dose formulation (p<0.05).

Data collected from this study provide additional guidance for optimising the design and implementation of pending pivotal Phase 3 studies as the Company prepares for New Drug Application (NDA) filings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010.

MoxDuo IR, the Company’s lead product candidate, is part of a larger Dual-Opioid portfolio including intravenous (MoxDuo IV) and controlled release (MoxDuo CR) formulations. These formulations are designed to incorporate tamper resistance and reduced abuse liability as appropriate.

Dr Bruce Nicholson, a leading pain physician in the US, commented on these results: “The concept of combining morphine and oxycodone makes sense based on the clinical data generated to date, and has benefited my patients in managing their acute and chronic pain needs. Results of this study reinforce that the clinical advantages of MoxDuo IR have the potential to change the traditional methods of treating moderate to severe pain by providing better pain relief without many of the debilitating side effects seen with traditional opioid drugs.”

Based on the Company’s July 2008 FDA meeting, final Phase 3 studies for MoxDuo IR will include: (1) a “double-blind combination rule” trial in patients experiencing post-surgical (bunionectomy) pain that compares MoxDuo IR against morphine alone and oxycodone alone and (2) a double-blind controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of MoxDuo IR in patients following total knee replacement. No additional pharmacology, toxicology or long-term clinical safety studies will be required for regulatory submission and market approval.