AZX100

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AZX100, a novel 24-amino acid synthetic peptide, is one of a new class of compounds in the field of smooth muscle relaxation.

AZX100 relaxes smooth muscle, which modulates the function of blood vessels, sphincters, the gastrointestinal tract, the genitourinary tract, and the airways. Sustained abnormal contraction of any of these muscles is called a spasm. Any disorders known to be associated with excessive constriction or inadequate dilation of smooth muscle represent potential applications for AZX100, including:

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induced spasm of the intracranial blood vessels
• Spasm of the vein grafts after harvest
• Spasm of portal vein (PHT)
• Spasm of airway smooth muscle (asthma)
• Spasm of lung vessels, which causes pulmonary (lung) hypertension
• Male and female sexual dysfunction
• Toxemia of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia/eclampsia)
• Pre-term labor
• Reynaud's disease or phenomenon
• Achalasia (spasm of the lower esophageal sphincter)
• Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia
• Hemolytic-uremia
• Prinzmetal's angina (a form of coronary spasm that causes angina)
• Anal fissure

AZX100 may also reverse the fibrotic phenotype of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in a mechanism similar to that which causes vasorelaxation. Through phenotypic modulation of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, AZX100 may inhibit the scarring that results from wound healing and disease states in the dermis, blood vessels, lungs, liver and other organs.

AZX100 is currently being evaluated by the Company for applications such as the prevention of dermal/keloid scarring, pulmonary fibrosis and the treatment of asthma. Preclinical and human in vitro studies have shown that this novel compound has the ability to relax smooth muscle in multiple tissue types. The Company will continue clinical and pre-clinical activities supporting AZX100 in 2009, and also intends to explore development collaborations.