Zalicus To Discontinue Pain Compound Z160 As It Fails To Meet Primary Endpoint

(RTTNews) - Biopharmaceutical company Zalicus Inc. (ZLCS) Monday announced that investigational compound Z160 in chronic pain indications did not meet the primary endpoint in either of the Phase 2 clinical studies. The company has further decided to discontinue the clinical development of Z160.

Zalicus, with a special focus on pain drugs, said the clinical studies in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy or LSR, and post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN failed to meet its goals. However, Z160 was shown to be generally safe and well-tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events, the firm said.

Based on the results, Zalicus is discontinuing the Z160 program and plans to focus efforts on Z944, its novel oral T-type calcium channel modulator in development for treatment of pain.

"Despite its promising preclinical profile, Z160 was unable to translate those results into clinical efficacy. A review of the data demonstrate that both studies were conducted in a rigorous fashion and resulted in adequate exposure of Z160, yet failed to demonstrate a difference in effect from placebo on any endpoint," said Mark Corrigan, President and CEO of Zalicus.

In the pre-market trading, ZLCS is currently at $4.69, down $.3.30, down 70.36 percent on the Nasdaq.