TheraQuest Presents Analgesic Synergy Data at U.S. Pain Conference

Blue Bell, PA – March 31, 2005/PR Newswire/-- TheraQuest Biosciences, a development stage pain management company today unveiled new, positive data from its proprietary beta-adrenergic agonist analgesic synergy platform at the American Pain Society 24th Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston.

Albuterol (TQ-1016) combination is the first product from this analgesic synergy technology. Albuterol and other beta-adrenergic agonists currently used as bronchodilators for the treatment of asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease can enhance the onset, duration and magnitude of analgesia when given in combination with a variety of opioid and non-opioid analgesics in both acute and chronic pain.

Michael Ossipov, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine and a noted expert in analgesic pharmacology stated “Given alone, albuterol has no analgesic activity. However, when given in combination with morphine in an established test model for pain drugs, albuterol increases the potency of morphine 300 to 400%.”

“We believe the net clinical result will be a more robust analgesic effect, reduced opioid dose requirement, reduced side effects and less tolerance”, noted Najib Babul, PharmD, President and Chief Executive Officer of TheraQuest. “The results of this finding go beyond one drug combination. Albuterol and other beta-adrenergic agonists can be combined with a variety of opioids and NSAIDs to enhance analgesia and reduce the dose related side effects”, added Babul. Full details of the American Pain Society scientific poster presentation may be found at www.theraquestinc.com.

About TheraQuest Biosciences

TheraQuest Biosciences, LLC is a private, development-stage pain management company building a diversified portfolio of pharmaceutical products to address a critical area of unmet medical need. Despite their limitations, current treatments for acute and chronic pain yield worldwide sales in excess of $25 billion. The TheraQuest team has contributed to the development of numerous analgesics approved in the U.S. over the past 20 years. TheraQuest’s strategy is to use its expertise to identify, develop and commercialize product candidates with strong market potential that have lower development costs and reduced regulatory risk than new chemical entities. TheraQuest is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA.

TheraQuest is funded in part by BioAdvance, the Biotechnology Greenhouse of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA.