The intellectual property is based on research conducted in the JHU laboratories of Craig Morrell and Charles Lowenstein that demonstrates the importance of glutamate release in promoting platelet activation and thrombosis and which identifies the AMPA receptors on platelets as a new antithrombotic target.
Tezampanel, given subcutaneously, and NGX426, given orally, are currently being developed by TorreyPines Therapeutics for the treatment of acute migraine and chronic pain.
Neil Kurtz, president and CEO of TorreyPines, said: “This is breakthrough research that further illustrates the importance of glutamate receptors as a new target for a wide range of indications. Additionally, the findings underscore the versatility and commercial prospects for our lead AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists, tezampanel and NGX426.”