STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 12, 2016 (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 peripheral kappa opioid receptors, today announced its participation at two upcoming medical meetings, both of which will be held in Chicago.
At the 10 th Annual Pain & Migraine Therapeutics Summit (to be held October 19-20, 2016), Dr. Joseph Stauffer, Cara’s Chief Medical Officer, will speak on an expert panel and deliver a presentation on kappa opioid receptor agonists (KORAs) as a novel approach to acute and chronic pain management.
At ANESTHESIOLOGY ® 2016 (to be held October 22-26, 2016), Dr. Stauffer will moderate a satellite symposium discussing therapies currently used in enhanced recovery after surgery, and review the unique pharmacological properties of CR845, Cara’s first-in-class peripherally selective kappa opioid agonist. Clinical trial results to date support the view that CR845 is unlikely to be recreationally abused or lead to physical dependence.
10 th Annual Pain & Migraine Therapeutics Summit
The expert panel details are as follows:
Title : “Pain, Policies and Predicaments - Follow-Up Panel Discussion” Date : Wednesday, October 19, 2016 Time : 10:10 a.m. CT Location : Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Chair : Lynn Webster, M.D., F.A.C.P.M., F.A.S.A.M., Vice President of Scientific Affairs, PRA Health Sciences, Past President, American Academy of Pain Medicine Panelists :
- Joseph Stauffer, D.O., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer, Cara Therapeutics; Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Carl L. Roland, Pharm.D., M.S., Senior Director, Pfizer, Inc.
- Alexander Kraus, Ph.D., Vice President of Product Development, Technical & Government Affairs, Grunenthal USA, Inc.
Details of Dr. Stauffer’s presentation are as follows:
Title : “Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists (KORAs): A Novel Approach to Managing Acute and Chronic Pain” Date : Wednesday, October 19, 2016 Time : 11:00 a.m. CT Location : Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown
For more information on the 10 th Annual Pain & Migraine Therapeutics Summit, visit: http://www.paintherapeuticsummit.com/ .
ANESTHESIOLOGY ® 2016
The satellite symposium details are as follows:
Title: “Emerging Analgesic Options for Enhanced Recovery” Date : Sunday, October 23, 2016 Time : 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. CT Location : Regency Ballroom BC, Hyatt Regency Chicago Moderator : Joseph Stauffer, D.O., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer, Cara Therapeutics; Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Faculty: Randal O. Dull, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesiology; Professor, Departments of Bioengineering, Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine
For more information on ANESTHESIOLOGY ® 2016, visit: https://www.asahq.org/annualmeeting .
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 a human abuse liability trial, I.V. CR845 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in “drug liking,” “feeling high,” “overall liking,” and “take drug again” scores in comparison to I.V. pentazocine, a Schedule IV analgesic.
An oral formulation of CR845 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b study in osteoarthritis patients and was shown in a Phase 2a study to be well tolerated with twice a day dosing for two weeks, with evidence of decreasing pain scores during that time period.
In approximately 1,150 subjects dosed to date, CR845 was found 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.
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 peripheral 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 initial efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe pain without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available pain therapeutics.
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
