SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CARA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain and pruritus by selectively targeting kappa opioid receptors, today announced it is sponsoring and participating in a lunch symposium titled, "Kappa: Myths / misconceptions, and moving beyond Mu," at the 25th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management. Leading pain experts will discuss the evolving medical and regulatory climate around mu-opioids and how kappa agonists may become an important treatment option. Experts will also discuss the Phase 2 data from Cara's clinical program of CR845, a peripherally acting kappa receptor agonist for acute pain, as well as the future of analgesia.
The symposium details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014
Time: 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM PDT
Location: JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ
Experts:
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Lynn Webster, MD, Vice President of Scientific Affairs, PRA International; immediate past president, American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Jeffrey Gudin, MD, Director of Pain Management and Palliative Care, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
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Robert Medve, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Cara Therapeutics
For more information about the 25th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management, visit http://www.aapainmanage.org/2014-annual-clinical-meeting/.
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 II trials in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy or bunionectomy procedures, I.V. CR845 treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in pain intensity and opioid-related side effects. In over 400 subjects dosed to date, I.V. CR845 was found to be safe and well tolerated, without incurring the dysphoric and psychotomimetic side effects that have been reported with centrally acting (CNS-active) kappa opioid receptor agonists. A previously completed Phase I study in end-stage kidney disease patients has established that CR845 is safe and generally well tolerated in this population.
About Cara Therapeutics
Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical 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 efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe pain without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available pain therapeutics.
CONTACT: INVESTOR CONTACT:
Jesse Baumgartner
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
Jesse@sternir.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Annie Starr
6 Degrees
973-415-8838
astarr@6degreespr.com
