Our Technology and Products
All of our clinical stage product candidates are based on our proprietary TAM technology. TAM is distinct from other drug delivery technologies as it is capable of rapidly delivering either hydrophilic or hydrophobic active agents through thickened skin and nails to the site of the inflammation or infection. Our issued and pending patents provide broad intellectual property protection for our product candidates as well as our TAM drug delivery system. Our TAM drug delivery technology enables us to develop first-in-class and best-in-class therapies with attractive product features, such as rapid local delivery, improved efficacy and reduced side effects for their respective indications. Our product candidates include:
MQX-503 – Raynaud’s Disease/Phenomenon. Our most advanced product candidate is MQX-503, a topical formulation which uses TAM to deliver 0.9% nitroglycerin, a proven vasodilator, for the prevention and treatment of Raynaud’s. Raynaud’s episodes or attacks are typically triggered by exposure to cold and an episode can last up to two hours. Since there are no currently approved drug treatments for Raynaud’s, physicians utilize existing medications off label, such as calcium channel blockers, to try to control the symptoms of Raynaud’s often without acceptable outcomes in the view of the patients. MQX-503 is provided to the patient in an elegant single-use applicator to be used as each episode occurs. According to recent market research commissioned by us, there are greater than 2 million diagnosed patients in the United States seeking medical treatment for Raynaud’s. Patients with Raynaud’s seek treatment mainly from rheumatologists, primary care physicians (“PCPs”) and obstetricians/gynecologists (“OB/GYNs”). Epidemiology studies estimate there are at least an additional nine million patients with Raynaud’s in the U.S.
MediQuest submitted an NDA for MQX-503 in April 2008 and received notice that it was accepted for filing and for priority review. For current MediQuest Raynaud's Clinical Trial information visit: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00934427?term=raynauds&rank=4.
MQX-5902 – Nail Psoriasis. MQX-5902 utilizes our TAM technology to deliver methotrexate, a proven anti-inflammatory and auto-immune agent, through the nail and nail surroundings. Currently, no topical treatment exists for nail psoriasis and current standards of care, nail removal or steroid injections beneath the nail, do not fulfill current patient needs. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated actives in TAM will penetrate finger and toe nails in as short as five days. We initiated a Phase II trial for MQX-5902 in Q4:2007 in the United Kingdom and expect final results from this trial in late 2008. Upon receiving these results we plan to start Phase II/III trials in 2009.
MQX-5858 – Onychomycosis. In July 2005, we out-licensed the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing rights for anti-fungal agents using our TAM technology for the treatment of onychomycosis, a nail fungus that affects approximately 35 million people in the United States. MQX-5858 is also being developed through the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. Our TAM technology has been shown to be able to deliver formulations of proven anti-fungal agents through the nail.
MQX-3016 – Actinic Keratosis. We are developing MQX-3016, an anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory NCE that is a potent antizyme inducer delivered using our TAM technology. MQX-3016 is being developed for the treatment of Actinic Keratosis (“AK”) and has several advantages over current therapies for AK. This product candidate is in pre-clinical development and we expect to file the Investigational New Drug application (“IND”) for MQX-3016 and commence Phase I trials in 2009.
In short, the TAM technology and the MediQuest compound library represent the foundation for a broad and valuable pipeline of product opportunities through life-cycle management of the current clinical drug candidates for new indications and through the utilization of the technology with alternative active agents.