QRxPharma Successfully Completes Pivotal Phase 3 Combination Rule Study for MoxDuo(R)IR in Patients with Post-Surgical Pain

Primary Endpoint achieved as required for United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submission

BEDMINSTER, N.J. and SYDNEY, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QRxPharma (ASX: QRX andOTCQX:  QRXPY) announced today the successful completion of the first of two pivotal Phase 3 studies for MoxDuo^®IR, an immediate-release Dual-Opioid™ pain therapy.  Required for FDA New Drug Application (NDA) submission, this combination rule study -- comparing the efficacy and safety profiles of MoxDuo^®IR against component doses of morphine and oxycodone alone -- demonstrated that MoxDuo^®IR reduces moderate to severe pain following bunionectomy surgery significantly better than its individual components.

"The path to commercialization is clear.  With the successful completion of this pivotal trial, we believe we have satisfied the FDA's 'combination rule' requirement and clearly demonstrated the efficacy superiority of MoxDuo^®IR compared to its individual components," said Dr. John Holaday, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, QRxPharma.  "We now shift our focus to the final MoxDuo^®IR registration trial, a study to evaluate the effectiveness of MoxDuo^®IR in patients following total knee replacement surgery which is projected to complete dosing in Q3 2010.  Based on earlier pilot study data, we are confident the second pivotal trial will also yield statistically significant results, enabling the Company to file its NDA in Q4 2010."

The Phase 3 trial enrolled 522 patients at six US clinical research sites, with a high completion rate (94%).  The study was conducted as a double-blind, randomized comparison of three fixed-dose treatment groups experiencing moderate to severe pain following bunionectomy surgery.  Each treatment group received the drug every six hours.  The primary endpoint for evaluating the efficacy of MoxDuo^®IR 12 mg/8 mg versus its milligram components (morphine 12 mg and oxycodone 8 mg) was the difference in pain intensity scores from baseline for each patient over the 48-hour treatment period (SPID(48)).  MoxDuo^®IR demonstrated statistically superior analgesic effect compared to its individual components of morphine (p=0.01) and oxycodone (p=0.01).  

MoxDuo^®IR also demonstrated significantly greater analgesic effect compared to its components during the first day of dosing using the SPID(24) secondary endpoint (the difference in pain intensity scores from baseline for each patient over the first 24-hour treatment period).  "With bunionectomy surgery, the most severe pain occurs within the first 24 hours and, accordingly, that's where we observed the greatest benefit of MoxDuo^®IR relative to its components in terms of pain relief," added Holaday.

To satisfy FDA combination rule testing requirements, the study was designed to compare MoxDuo^®IR to its milligram components, ie, MoxDuo 12 mg of morphine plus 8 mg oxycodone vs patients treated with either 12 mg morphine alone or 8 mg oxycodone alone.  Despite MoxDuo^®IR delivering twice the morphine equivalent opioid dose, its discontinuation rate (4.7%) due to adverse side effects compared favorably with morphine (2.3%) and oxycodone (4.0%) alone.  These data reinforce the improved safety/side effect profile of MoxDuo^®IR over existing opioid treatments.

The Company's MoxDuo^® product portfolio includes both immediate and controlled release as well as intravenous formulations.  "Our goal is to provide physicians and patients with a variety of complementary Dual-Opioids™ for managing moderate to severe pain from hospital to home," added Holaday. "With the successful completion of our first pivotal trial, we are able to quantitatively demonstrate the value of this product to potential partners, prescribers and patients."

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they include statements about our beliefs and expectations.  Any statement in this release that states our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions (and the assumptions underlying them) is a forward-looking statement.

These statements are based on plans, estimates and projections as they are currently available to the management of QRxPharma.  Forward-looking statements therefore speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  A number of important factors could therefore cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.  Such factors include risks relating to the stage of products under development; uncertainties relating to clinical trials; dependence on third parties; future capital needs; and risks relating to the commercialization of the Company's proposed products.

About QRxPharma

QRxPharma (ASX: QRX andOTCQX: QRXPY) is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new treatments for pain management and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Based on a development strategy which focuses on enhancing and expanding the clinical utility of currently marketed compounds, the Company's product portfolio includes both late and early stage clinical drug candidates with the potential for reduced risk, abbreviated development paths, and improved patient outcomes. The Company intends to directly commercialize its products in the US and seek strategic partnerships for worldwide markets.  QRxPharma's lead product candidate, MoxDuo^®IR, is in Phase 3 clinical development and has successfully completed multiple comparative studies evaluating its efficacy and safety against equianalgesic doses of morphine, oxycodone and Percocet^® for the treatment of acute pain.  Data collected from these studies provided additional guidance for optimizing the design and initiation of two pivotal Phase 3 studies required for New Drug Application (NDA) filings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  QRxPharma expects to complete its Phase 3 program Q3 CY2010 and file its NDA for MoxDuo^®IR in Q4 CY2010.  The Company's preclinical and clinical pipeline includes other technologies in the fields of pain management, neurodegenerative disease and venomics.  For more information, visit www.qrxpharma.com.

For more information please contact:

SOURCE QRxPharma