Cortex Pharmaceuticals (CORX)

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of Sleep Apnea, drug-induced Respiratory Depression, and other brain mediated breathing disorders.  In August 2012, Cortex merged with privately held Pier Pharmaceuticals in an all stock transaction, with Pier becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cortex -

Cortex website - http://www.cortexpharm.com/

Pier Pharma website - http://www.pierpharmaceuticals.com/




Dronabinol -  Targeting Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  
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This program was acquired in the Pier Pharma merger.

Phase 2b enrollment began Dec 2012, with full funding from the NIH (approx $5 mil in NIH funding).  The trial will enroll 120 patients, using two doses of Dronabinol -- a 2.5 mg arm dosing for 6 weeks and a 10 mg arm dosing for 4 weeks after a 2 week dose escalation.  These are similar dosing levels to those that Dronabinol already has FDA approval for in CINV and AIDS anorexia.  Patients will receive Dronabinol 1 hour prior to bedtime. Estimated completion date is May 2015  

Dr. Carley (Professor at the Univ of Illinois, and former Chief Science Officer at Pier Pharma) is the principal investigator. Enrollment began Dec 2012 at the Univ of Illinois, and Northwestern Univ will also be participating.


http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01755091?term=dronabinol+apnea&rank=1


Dronabinol is a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring substance in the cannabis plant, namely delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as delta-9 THC. Dronabinol is one of many derivatives found in the cannabis plant which includes other compounds as well such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC), to name a few.

Dronabinol is currently FDA approved for use in refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) as well as for anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS.  Its use in these two indications is at a dose range of 2.5 mg to 10 mg twices daily.    Cortex acquired the Dronabinol program in its merger with Pier Pharma in Aug 2012, and Dronabinol is being evaluated to see whether a low dose Dronabinol therapy used in a proprietary formulation given daily at bedtime will significantly improve the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as well as other subjective and objective measures of clinical improvement in patients with OSA.

More information on Dronabinol can be found at the Pier Pharma website -

http://www.pierpharmaceuticals.com/moa.html

 

Dronabinol Phase 2a results in Obstructive Sleep Apnea -

(This data was presented at the May 2011 meeting of the American Thoracic Society) -

http://www.pierpharmaceuticals.com/clinical.html

The Phase 2a enrolled 22 patients, dosed for 21 days, with doses escalating from 2.5 mg to 5 mg to 10 mg.  A single dose was given 30 minutes before bedtime.   Statistical improvement in the primary endpoint (AHI -- Apnea-Hypopnea Index) was seen at the 2.5 and 10 mg dose levels, with a reduction in the AHI index score in the moderate-severe sleep apnea patients of approx 30%.  Dronabinol was safe and well-tolerated, with no degradation of sleep architecture. 


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AMPAKINES - Allosteric upmodulators of the AMPA receptor
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Ampakines are allosteric, meaning they amplify existing neural signals, rather than creating brand new neural signals as an agonist compound does.  Low Impact type Ampakines upregulate AMPA activity without producing significant BDNF upregulation, while High Impact Ampakines also upregulate production of BDNF and other neural growth factors.   Low and High Impacts bind at different binding sites on the AMPA receptor.  Low impacts are inherently much less prone to inducing excitotoxicity/seizures than high impacts.   In fact, low impacts like CX-717 and CX-1739 are so safe that it wasn't really possible to generate a true MTD - Max Tolerated Dose in Phase 1.         
 

 Low Impact Ampakines -
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CX-1739 -
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Phase 2a completed in Sleep Apnea, with extremely strong results seen in Central type Sleep Apnea, and good activity also seen in Mixed type Sleep Apnea.   CX-1739 can also target ADHD, the cognitive aspects of Schizophrenia, Depression, and all other indications suitable for a low impact Ampakine (ie - where BDNF upregulation isn't a requirement).  CX-1739 is completely free from the preclinical 'artifact' histological phenomenon  that derailed development of CX-717 - 

Sleep Apnea Phase 2a results (CX-1739) - http://www.cortexpharm.com/news/2011/020211.html

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82872921

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CX-1942 - Water soluble prodrug of CX-1763 for intravenous use, targeting Respiratory Depression
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CX-2076 - Backup compound to CX-1739, awaiting IND enabling studies
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CX-717 -
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Phase 2a completed in Respiratory Depression,  in which CX-717 demonstrated Ampakine's ability to both prevent and reverse opioid induced Respiratory Depression without diminishing the pain relieving properties of the opioid.   Ampakines have also demonstrated preclinically the ability to reverse barbiturate induced Respiratory Depression (Propofol), a clinical area without any current treatments (naloxone/Narcan does not work on barbiturates).   CX-717 also completed a Phase 2a  in ADHD  and showed statistically significant efficacy in both primary endpoints - the hyperactivity and the inattentiveness subscales.  Unlike current stimulant type ADHD drugs, Ampakines do not increase heart rate or blood pressure.  CX-717 also showed good efficacy in reversing the cognitive effects of Sleep Deprivation (UK study) -

Respiratory Depression Phase 2a results (CX-717) - http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/cortex-s-ampakine-molecule-cx717-has-positive-opiate-induced-respiratory-depression-phase-iia-5253.html

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82872525

ADHD Phase 2a results (CX-717) - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82879930

Sleep Deprivation Phase 2a results (CX-717) (UK study) - cbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1188239/

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High Impact Ampakines - (upregulate BDNF)
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With the ability to upregulate BDNF and other brain growth factors, high impact Ampakines may have the potential to slow, halt, or even reverse many neurodegenerative diseases.    Cortex's high impacts (Benzamide related) are different chemical families than the high impacts of other companies like Lilly, Glaxo, and Merck (Biarylpropylsulfonamides, Benzothiazides, etc).  In the 2008-2010 period, Cortex also developed and patented multiple new families of improved high impacts which are awaiting funding/partnership.     


CX-1632 - (S-47445) - Phase 1 completed, targeting Alzheimer's (Servier)

CX-1846 - Lead in-house high impact, awaiting IND enabling studies, possibly targeting Parkinson's


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Key Press Releases -
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Aug 14, 2012 - Cortex announces merger with Pier Pharmaceuticals in an all stock transaction -
http://www.cortexpharm.com/news/2012/081412.html
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Oct 6, 2011 -- Servier Exercises Option to Cortex's Ampakine CX1632, an Innovative Compound in Clinical Development for Alzheimer's Disease  -- http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69802851
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Aug 24, 2011 -- Cortex Receives U.S. Patent for the use of Ampakine Molecules to Treat Respiratory Depression -- http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69803347
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Apr 26, 2011 -- Cortex Receives Granted US Patent for its Lead AMPAKINE® Molecule CX-1739
-- http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69802247
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Mar 16, 2011 -- Cortex Reacquires all Ampakine Compounds, Related Patents and Exclusive Global Rights for Respiratory Depression from Biovail  --  http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69803128
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Feb 2, 2011 -- CX-1739 Improves Respiratory Parameters In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients --http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69802205

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82872921
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Jul 6, 2010 - Funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to discover drug candidates for Parkinson's disease -- http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69802108
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Aug, 2008 - Cortex's AMPAKINE Molecule CX717 Has Positive Effects in Opiate-Induced Respiratory Depression in a Phase IIa Clinical Study - http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/cortex-s-ampakine-molecule-cx717-has-positive-opiate-induced-respiratory-depression-phase-iia-5253.html

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82872525
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Q1-2006 - ADHD Phase 2a results (CX-717) - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82879930


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Ampakines have the potential to address indications that range from orphan indications to $1 Billion plus sized markets -


Respiratory -
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Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression ---- (positive Phase 2a data with CX-717)
Barbiturate Induced Respiratory Depression
Sleep Apnea (especially Central type SA) ---- (positive Phase 2a data with CX-1739)
Respiratory aspects of Sickle Cell Crisis

Neuro / Psych -
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Low Impact Ampakines -
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ADHD -------------------------------------------------------(positive Phase 2a data with CX-717)
Cognitive aspects of Alzheimer's Disease
Cognitive aspects of Schizophrenia
Cognitive aspects of Parkinson's
Cognitive aspects of Sleep Deprivation ----------(positive Phase 2a data with CX-717 - UK study)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1188239/
Depression
MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
Memory Loss due to ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy)
Memory Loss due to CABGS (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery)
EDS (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness)
Narcolepsy


High Impact Ampakines - (disease modifying via BDNF upregulation)
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Alzheimers Disease
Parkinson's Disease
Huntington's Disease
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Rett's Syndrome
Schizophrenia
Angelman Syndrome
Fragile X
SCI (Spinal Cord Injury)
TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
Stroke





Cortex company website:
http://www.cortexpharm.com/

Dr. Tracy (NI Research / NeuroPerspective) Cortex commentary:
http://niresearch.com/

Patent database : Ampa related patents -
http://v3.espacenet.com/results?TI=ampa&sf=a&DB=EPODOC&PGS=10&CY=ep&LG=en&ST...

Information website for Ampakines (not an official Cortex company website):
http://www.ampakines.org/index.htm

Research Paper abstracts for "Ampakines":
http://www.neurotransmitter.net/ampakines.html





Yahoo Cortex Message Board:
http://finance.yahoo.com/mb/CORX/

Silicon Investor Cortex Message Board:
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/subject.aspx?subjectid=3299

SEC Filings -
http://sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000849636&owner=exclude&count=40