PainCeptor Pharma announces positive clinical results that validate ASICs as novel targets for human pain

    MONTREAL, Sept. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - PainCeptor Pharma announced today that
PPC-5650, a potent ASIC1a antagonist, reduces thermal and mechanical
hyperalgesia in a human inflammatory pain model, thereby validating ASICs as
novel molecular targets for the treatment of pain.
    PPC-5650, an investigational drug, is a selective and potent
peripherally-acting ASIC1a antagonist being developed for the treatment of
acute and chronic inflammatory pain. The randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study tested the efficacy of a single intradermal dose of
PPC-5650 on primary hyperalgesia in 15 healthy male subjects in a UVB
inflammatory pain model. The trial was conducted at the Medical University of
Vienna, Austria, with Dr. Burkhard Gustorff, MD, DEAA as principal
investigator. Dr Gustorff states "It is very exciting to report on these
positive, first time in human results for a novel class of compounds for the
treatment of pain."
    The results from the study demonstrate that PPC-5650 exerts a significant
(p(less than)0.05) treatment effect on heat pain tolerance threshold and
mechanical pain sensitivity. The Company intends to release detailed study
results at the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Meeting (Nov 6-8,
2008). "We are very pleased with the results from this proof of concept
clinical trial. The efficacy of PainCeptor's ASIC antagonist for the treatment
of human pain was as predicted from our in vitro and in vivo models" said
Louis Lamontagne, President and CEO, PainCeptor Pharma Corp. "We believe that
this proof of concept data provides positive, pharmacological and mechanistic
evidence to support the further clinical development of ASIC inhibitors as
novel pain therapies."

    About PainCeptor Pharma

    PainCeptor Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company developing next
generation therapeutic drugs for the treatment of chronic and acute pain.
PainCeptor's therapeutic programs are focused on novel, yet scientifically
validated therapeutic targets within the peripheral nervous system (PNS). By
focusing on modulating target receptors in the PNS, PainCeptor expects to
develop analgesics that avoid the many detrimental side effects associated
with today's centrally-active pain drugs. PainCeptor's development pipeline
includes two lead antagonist programs, targeting ASIC1a and NGF/p75-TrkA, and
a third antagonist program targeting ASIC3.

For further information:

For further information: Dr. Louis Lamontagne, President and CEO,
PainCeptor Pharma Corp., (514) 337-5959 x 116, llamontagne@painceptor.com;
www.painceptor.com;