ANESIVA ENDS DEVELOPMENT OF TOPICAL ANESTHETIC

Anesiva has announced data from a Phase I safety study of product candidate 1207, which was being tested as a topical anesthetic for treatment of neuropathic patients. The study achieved the primary endpoints of safety and tolerability, but in the studied population of healthy volunteers, no clear anesthetic effect of 1207 was demonstrated.

"While we are disappointed that we did not see positive efficacy in this trial, our primary focus is on our two most advanced pain product candidates -- Zingo, for which we recently filed a new drug application, and 4975, which is expected to enter pivotal trials later this year," John McLaughlin, CEO of Anesiva, said. "Based on the results of the Phase I trial of 1207, we are no longer pursuing the clinical development of this drug."

The Phase I study had enrolled a total of 24 adult healthy male volunteers in six dose-escalating cohorts at a single clinical center in Australia. In addition to safety data, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study measured sensory perceptions of touch and warmth following a single topical administration of 1207 compared with placebo.