Zalicus Wins Composition-of-Matter Patent for Z944

Zalicus Inc.

, a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain, today announced that it has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) covering its product candidate Z944. United States patent number 8,377,968 entitled “N-Piperidinyl Acetamide Derivatives as Calcium Channel Blockers” provides broad coverage for Z944 including compositions of matter and certain therapeutic methods of use through April 2029. Z944 is a novel, oral, T-type calcium channel blocker which has demonstrated efficacy in a number of preclinical inflammatory pain models and other disease models. Z944 completed Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose clinical studies in late 2012 and the Company plans to continue further clinical development with Z944 during 2013. “This key patent provides the foundation of a solid and enforceable intellectual property estate for Z944, with issued claims through April 2029,” commented Mark H.N. Corrigan, MD, President and CEO of Zalicus. “Based on our preclinical and early-stage clinical work, we are excited to further explore the potential of Z944 as a novel, oral, non-opioid pain treatment.”