- Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Stauffer to discuss potential for kappa opioids
SHELTON, Conn., Oct. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CARA), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting kappa opioid receptors, today announced that its Chief Medical Officer, Joseph Stauffer, D.O., M.B.A., will lead a track on "Technical Breakthroughs in Abuse Deterrence" at the 2nd Human Abuse Liability & Abuse-Deterrent Formulations conference on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda in Bethesda, Maryland.
In addition, Dr. Stauffer will deliver an oral presentation titled "Analyze the Scientific and Market Potential for Kappa Opioids" on Tuesday, November 3 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. ET, during which he will discuss developments in kappa opioid receptor agonists such as CR845, Cara's first-in-class peripherally-selective kappa opioid agonist, which has potential to be the only Schedule V or non-scheduled opioid for acute pain.
For more information on the 2nd Human Abuse Liability & Abuse-Deterrent Formulations conference, visit http://exlevents.com/2nd-human-abuse-liability-abuse-deterrent-formulations/.
About CR845
CR845 is a peripherally acting kappa opioid receptor agonist currently in development for the treatment of acute and chronic pain and pruritus. In multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy or bunionectomy procedures, I.V. CR845 treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in both pain intensity and opioid-related side effects. In more than 440 subjects dosed to date, I.V. CR845 was observed to be well tolerated, without incurring the dysphoric and psychotomimetic side effects that have been reported with centrally acting (CNS-active) kappa opioid receptor agonists. Cara recently initiated its Phase 3 program with I.V. CR845 in postoperative pain. Cara also has an ongoing Phase 2 trial of an oral tablet formulation of CR845, for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).
In Q3'15, Cara announced positive results with I.V. CR845 in a Phase 2 trial in uremic pruritus patients where CR845 treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in both the primary endpoint of worst itching and secondary endpoints assessing quality of life measurements.
About Cara Therapeutics
Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting kappa opioid receptors. Cara is developing a novel and proprietary class of product candidates that target the body's peripheral nervous system and have demonstrated activity in patients with moderate-to-severe pain without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available pain therapeutics.