RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DARA BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:DARA) announced that results of its KRN5500 study have been selected for presentation at the 12th International Conference on the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain to be held in San Francisco, November 19-21, 2009. Sharon M. Weinstein, MD, a leading investigator in the study, will present a poster entitled, "KRN5500 Demonstrates Significant Reduction in Neuropathic Pain Intensity in Patients with Cancer."
The presentation will provide an overview of the results from the recently completed multicenter, placebo-controlled, blinded, randomized, parallel group study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of KRN5500 in patients with neuropathic pain and advanced cancer. In this study KRN5500 demonstrated proof of concept by meeting the primary efficacy endpoint of pain reduction.
Dr. Weinstein is a physician at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, UT, and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (FAAHPM).
Linda Jett, MSN, leader of the Program at DARA, said, "It is an honor to have our study results selected for presentation to leaders in the field of pain management. While poly-therapeutic treatment approaches to cancer have improved survival and cure rates, patients with cancer may, in the process, suffer severe pain and a profound reduction in quality of life as a secondary effect of the cancer and/or its treatment. We are hopeful that the positive results from this proof-of-concept study are indicative of the viability of KRN5500 as a treatment option for this potentially debilitating condition."
Earlier this year, DARA announced statistically significant results for the primary endpoint of this study, comparing the effect of KRN5500 and placebo on pain levels in patients with neuropathic pain and cancer. Based on these promising results the Company is planning to conduct a Phase 2b trial.
Additional information about the conference can be found at http://www.neuropathicpain.org/.
About DARA BioSciences, Inc.
DARA BioSciences(TM), Inc. ("DARA") is a Raleigh, North Carolina based development-stage pharmaceutical company that acquires promising therapeutic small molecules and develops them through proof of concept in humans for subsequent sale or out-licensing to larger pharmaceutical companies. Presently, DARA has two drug candidates with cleared IND's (Investigational New Drug) Applications from the US FDA. One of these drug candidates, KRN5500, has successfully completed a Phase 2a clinical trial treating cancer patients for neuropathic pain. It has a portfolio of drug candidates for neuropathic pain, type 2 diabetes, and psoriasis. For more information please contact the Company at 919-872-5578 or visit our web site at http://www.darabio.com.
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for DARA from those projected. Those factors include risks and uncertainties relating to DARA's current cash position and its need to raise additional capital in the near term in order to be able to continue to fund its operations, risks and uncertainties relating to DARA's ability to develop and bring new products to market as anticipated, the current regulatory environment in which the company develops and sells its products, the market acceptance of those products, dependence on partners, successful performance under collaborative and other commercial agreements, competition, the strength of DARA's intellectual property, the intellectual property of others, and other risk factors identified in the documents DARA has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of DARA's filings with the SEC may be obtained from the SEC Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. DARA expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward -looking statements contained herein to reflect an y change in DARA's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. DARA BioSciences and the DARA logo are trademarks of DARA BioSciences, Inc.