RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. Provides Update on Its Development Programs

Glen Rock, N.J., April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: RSPI) (“RespireRx” or the “Company”), a leader in the discovery and development of innovative and revolutionary treatments to combat diseases caused by disruption of neuronal signaling, is pleased to provide an update on its therapeutic drug development programs.

EndeavourRx

GABAkines

Scientists associated with the Company have been invited by the prestigious journal, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, to publish a review article describing the preclinical properties of its lead GABAkine compound, KRM-II-81, and its potential clinical therapeutic applications. The multidisciplinary team of authors have been led by Dr. James M. Cook^6,7, Distinguished Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Dr. Jeffrey M. Witkin^1,6,7, both of whom are RespireRx Research Fellows. Authors also include Roc Cerne^1,2,3,4, Arnold Lippa⁵, Michael Poe⁸, Jodi L. Smith¹, Xiaoming Jin⁴, Xingjie Ping⁴ and Lalit K. Golani⁶. The paper is undergoing editorial review prior to being published.

KRM-II-81, one of the molecules in RespireRx’s EndeavourRx business unit, amplifies inhibitory neurotransmission through selectively potentiating a subset of GABA, particularly GABA_A receptors, to guide its unique efficacy and reduced side-effect profile. Preclinical studies have documented its efficacy in a broad array of animal models of inter-related neurological and psychiatric disorders including epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. KRM-II-81 is the latest GABAkine to begin development in IND-enabling toxicology investigations as a joint program of RespireRx and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Jeffrey Witkin, a senior author of the review paper said “The renewed efforts to develop improved GABAkines allows the fine-tuned use of the patient’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter system to help moderate a host of neurological and psychiatric disorders. We are excited about the prospect that this novel GABAkine may give hope to those patients burdened with intractable epilepsy or chronic pain.”

Tim Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer said, ‘We are honored to have been invited by the esteemed medical journal, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, to author a review paper of our data from KRM-II-81. It is a clear recognition of the significant advancements we are making in our GABAkine programs. I am also very pleased with the progress we are making in drug substance and formulation development across all of our programs’