NeuroMax Announces Start Phase 1 Clinical Trial of AQU-005 for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain

MOSCOW, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Maxwell Biotech Venture Fund's portfolio company NeuroMax Ltd and its development partner, Aquilus Pharmaceuticals, Inc today announced the start of Phase 1, open label, prospective, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics study of AQU-005 for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Recruitment in the clinical study is underway and is expected to enroll up to 24 healthy adult volunteers in Russia.

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NeuroMax has successfully completed pre-clinical studies of AQU-005, a very potent, dual active inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease (MMP) type 2 and 9. The drug demonstrated favorable safety profile and high efficacy in animal models of neuropathic pain in comparison with the 'gold standard', gabapentin.

"We are very pleased that AQU-005 has moved into clinical development and hope that the positive results that we have observed preclinically will translate into the clinic and ultimately help the millions of people suffering from different types of neuropathic pain", - said Irving Sucholeiki, President&CEO of the biopharmaceutical company, Aquilus Pharmaceuticals.

"We are excited to initiate clinical development of AQU-005 in this area of high unmet medical need. We are planning to start proof of concept clinical trials in patients with neuropathic pain in Q4 2016", - said Alexander Alexandrov, Medical Director of Maxwell Biotech Group.

About AQU-005 

AQU-005 drug is a first in class MMP-2 and 9 inhibitor that blocks pain at both early and late phases via a totally novel mechanism of action.  

About NeuroMax  

NeuroMax Ltd is a biotechnology company, founded in 2010, with the purpose to develop and market launch innovative products for the treatment of central and peripheral nervous system diseases in Russia.

About Maxwell Biotech Venture Fund  

Maxwell Biotech Venture Fund (MBVF) is the first Russian venture fund fully dedicated to investments in the life sciences sector. The fund has been created with participation of the Russian Venture Company. MBVF portfolio companies have nine innovative clinical drug candidates in development.

Press Contacts
Natalia Bakrenko
Maxwell Biotech Group
+7(495)726-52-53
[email protected]

SOURCE Maxwell Biotech Group (MBG)