ACR Acrux Limited

Acrux Limited (ASX: ACR), a Melbourne, Australia-based pharmaceutical company which has developed an innovative transdermal drug delivery system, announced today that two senior executives will be presenting on panels at the upcoming BIO CEO conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Acrux CEO Dr. Igor Gonda will join a panel of CEOs and pain experts to discuss the latest developments in pain relief. Dr. Nina Wilkins, who manages Acrux's intellectual property and business development, will discuss latest developments in reproductive health for men and women on a panel called "What's New in Sexual/Gender Health." Both panels are at 4 p.m. (U.S. EST) on February 14. "Cure the Pain" Dr. Gonda's panel, titled "Cure the Pain," will address key factors driving the growing demand for pain medication, including aging populations, greater use of strong pain drugs in emerging markets and concerns surrounding side effects and inadequate efficacy of existing treatments. Gonda's presentation will focus on his company's work with fentanyl, a potent and widely used medication to treat chronic pain caused by cancer, arthritis and back injury. "Transdermal fentanyl--in a 3-day patch--has become a key tool in the management of pain, with annual sales totalling more than $2 billion worldwide," said Gonda. "With Acrux's unique Patchless Patch(R) delivery system, we are developing a transdermal alternative to the traditional patch that provides the same advantages, and offers other benefits--such as dosing flexibility for more precise pain control, while avoiding some of the risks--such as skin irritation and residual drug." With Acrux's delivery system, Fentanyl UDTS(TM), a patient would use a simple applicator to apply a single dose of quick-drying fentanyl formulation to the skin which rapidly creates an invisible, non-irritating reservoir of the medication within the skin. The fentanyl then slowly diffuses into the bloodstream throughout the day. With this application method, dosing frequency can be varied to control pain more effectively. Fentanyl UDTS(TM) has had positive results in its Phase 1 trials and Acrux is funding additional small trials in Australia to gather further valuable data on the product, before securing a commercial partner for Phase 3 trials and marketing. "What's New In Sexual/Gender Health?" Dr. Wilkins' panel will look at the current climate and recent advancements in the multi-billion dollar reproductive health market. With FDA warnings about possible adverse effects from blockbuster male "gender health" drugs, such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra inspiring caution, safe new therapies and technologies for reproductive health will be highly prized. Approximately 13 million men in the U.S. today experience testosterone deficiency and researchers are now also investigating new treatments for women's arousal and desire. Acrux is at the forefront of this exciting and growing area, with three women's health products and one men's health product in development using the company's transdermal delivery system. "Our vision is that Acrux's once-a-day skin sprays will become a familiar and preferred means of treatment for women throughout their lives," said Wilkins. "Our contraceptive, our treatment for decreased libido and our treatment for menopausal symptoms are all in clinical development, with the first product nearing completion of Phase 3 in the USA. We are also developing a novel patient-friendly lotion for men faced with testosterone deficiency." Acrux's transdermal drug delivery system consists of three proprietary components: -- MDTS(R) applicator--a small, hand-held, easy-to-use applicator that is designed to provide an easy and convenient means to deliver a preset dose of a therapeutic drug onto the skin -- ACROSS(R) penetration enhancers--commonly used safe, non-irritating materials, with properties that enable transport of the drug through the skin. -- Patchless Patch(R)--the drug delivery method itself, whereby a fast-drying formulation forms an invisible reservoir of the drug and enhancer in the outer layer of the skin, from which the drug is slowly released into the bloodstream. "We are delighted to be invited to take part in the BIO CEO panels and look forward to some valuable insights into treatment options for patients in both these exciting areas. Acrux's participation reflects the breadth of our product pipeline and its advanced stage of development," said Gonda. About Acrux (www.acrux.com.au): -- Acrux is a specialty pharmaceutical company, developing and commercializing a range of patented, patient-preferred healthcare products for global markets, using its innovative technology to administer drugs through the skin. -- Acrux's product pipeline includes treatments of hormonal deficiencies, pain and central nervous system disorders, as well as a contraceptive. -- The company has completed 20 human clinical trials with 8 different drug products. The lead product, Evamist(TM) (Estradiol MDTS(R)), is currently in a phase three clinical trial in the USA. -- Acrux has licensed USA rights for Evamist(TM) (Estradiol MDTS(R)) and Testosterone MDTS(R) to VIVUS and AUS/NZ distribution rights for Testosterone MDTS(R) and Fentanyl UDTS(TM) to CSL Limited. Acrux has also licensed its technology to Eli Lilly for veterinary healthcare products.