NephRx Corp. Awarded New U.S. Patent for Oral Mucositis Agent NX002

KALAMAZOO, Mich., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — NephRx
Corporation today announced issuance of a new U.S. patent for its
novel peptide NX002, which currently is in preclinical development
for the treatment of oral mucositis.  Previously, NephRx
reported that NX002 had demonstrated significant efficacy when
tested in well-validated animal models of oral mucositis.
 Mucositis is a debilitating and often dose-limiting condition
that affects more than 400,000 cancer patients who receive
chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the U.S. each year.
 Current treatment options are limited.

“Issuance of this most recent patent further confirms the
promising utility of NX002 as a potential treatment for oral
mucositis,” said James Koziarz, President and CEO of NephRx.
 “Mucositis is a painful and debilitating side effect of
cancer therapy that can be dose-limiting, jeopardizing patients’
chances for successful treatment.  We look forward to
advancing the detailed NX002 toxicity studies needed to initiate
the mucositis clinical program for NX002.”

NX002 is a peptide derived from the naturally occurring growth
factor AMP-18, which has been shown to stimulate the growth of
epithelial cells and to promote mucosal wound healing after
injury.  Its multiple biological properties include the
ability to protect cells from injury, stimulate cell growth and
migration, and increase the accumulation of proteins that bind
cells together.  In a study in a well-validated mucositis
model, animals treated with NX002 had reduced levels of oral
ulceration and a more rapid recovery, with no evidence of toxicity.
 NephRx has begun the preclinical toxicology studies of NX002
needed to initiate mucositis clinical trials targeted for late 2011
or early 2012.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark office issued Patent No. 7910543,
“Control of growth and repair of gastro-intestinal tissues by
gastrokines and inhibitors.”  Rights to this patent,

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