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CeNeS Licenses New Intravenous Anaesthetic to Ono in Japan

07 Aug 2007 - CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc announced that Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has obtained from CeNeS the exclusive rights in Japan to develop and commercialize CNS-7056 developed by CeNeS as a general anaesthetic and short-acting sedative. Under this agreement, Ono will pay to CeNeS upfront and milestone payments based on development stage as well as royalties on sales of CNS-7056.
 
CNS-7056 is a new short-acting general anaesthetic and sedative that acts on GABAA receptors. Pre-clinical studies demonstrate that, after intravenous administration, the compound rapidly induces deep sedation which is maintained during continuous administration. Importantly the sedative effects rapidly disappear after cessation of administration. The rapid offset of effect of the compound is due to its metabolism by esterase enzymes that are widely distributed throughout the body. Therefore it is anticipated that CNS-7056 can be clinically developed as a sedative agent for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and as a sedative for mechanical ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). CeNeS plans to start a Phase I study in the USA in the first half of 2008 and Ono plans to start a Phase I study in Japan as early as the second half of 2008.