Pain Therapeutics said it would start testing Oxytrex in the second half of 2007, enrolling into the “Extreme Study” about 120 patients who depend on large daily doses of oxycodone — or doses greater than or equal to 120 mg — to treat severe chronic pain, whom the company said are particularly prone to physical dependence and withdrawal.

There is reason to believe that Oxytrex will produce greater analgesia, while producing lower levels of tolerance and dependence, than oxycodone.

Pain Therapeutics website.

About Oxytrex from Pain Therapeutics, Inc.

“Oxytrex is a unique oral painkiller that preferentially inhibits an excitatory effect of opioid receptors. This excitatory effect is believed to counteract analgesia (pain relief) and cause tolerance. Its inhibition enhances pain relief and minimizes opioid tolerance. We believe Oxytrex represents the first new mechanism of action by an opiate drug since morphine was discovered over 100 years ago.

We are developing Oxytrex to treat moderate-to-severe chronic pain, such as osteoarthritic pain or low-back pain. We believe Oxytrex could be an effective substitute for oxycodone, a leading opioid painkiller, with U.S. sales of nearly $2 billion for the 12-months ending August 2005, according to IMS Health data.”