Cortex’s AMPAKINE® Research in Opioid–induced Respiratory Depression Makes Windhover’s Top 10 List of Neuroscience Pro...

  
    
  
  
    
      Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US (COR)) announced that 
      Mark Varney, Ph.D., President & CEO, will present at the Windhover 
      Information’s 3rd Annual Therapeutic 
      Area Partnerships conference to be held at the Loews 
      Philadelphia Hotel on November 3-5, 2008.
    
    
      The selection committee included Marc Wortman, Ph.D., associated with 
      Windhover’s In Vivo and Start Up publication 
      and Dr. Harry Tracy, President of NeuroInvestment, a leading independent 
      neuroscience analyst. “Selected companies were 
      evaluated using a strict set of judging criteria and represent what our 
      committee considered the most attractive neuroscience opportunities the 
      industry has to offer,” said Roger Longhorn, 
      Managing Director of Windhover Information. After reviewing many 
      promising neuroscience projects, the committee selected Cortex’s 
      AMPAKINE® research program on opioid-induced 
      respiratory depression as one of the Top Ten Projects for potential 
      licensing. Acute post-operative respiratory depression extends hospital 
      stays and is associated with a disproportional mortality rate. As a 
      selected company, Cortex has been invited to make a presentation on its 
      lead Phase II product candidate, CX717.
    
    
      Dr. Varney commented, “Being selected as one 
      of the Top 10 Neuroscience Projects by Windhover Information is a great 
      honor and tangible evidence of what has been accomplished over the past 
      14 months with our AMPAKINE program. We are all excited about the 
      results seen to date with CX717 that indicate the compound may optimize 
      pain management with opioids without exposing surgical patients to the 
      increased risk of respiratory depression.”
    
    
      The web-link for the conference is listed below:
    
    
      http://www.windhover.com/ezine/html/TA08Projects.htm?utm_source= 
      TA08&utm_mediu
    
    
      (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your 
      Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
    
    
      CX717 is an AMPAKINE molecule with good safety and efficacy. Earlier 
      this week, Cortex issued a press release reporting the second positive 
      Phase IIa, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized two-way 
      crossover trial. In this study, a single oral 1500 mg dose of CX717 was 
      administered two hours before the infusion of the potent opioid, 
      alfentanil. CX17 prevented the reduction in basal breathing rate induced 
      by the opioid in comparison to placebo (p = 0.005). The degree of the 
      reversal of the basal respiratory rate was similar to that obtained with 
      the standard opioid antagonist, naloxone. At the same time, the 
      analgesic properties of alfentanil were maintained in an acute pain 
      model in the presence of CX717. The trial was performed by one of the 
      leading experts in the field, Professor Jörn Lötsch 
      at the Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, 
      Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität in 
      Frankfurt, Germany.
    
    
      About Windhover
    
    
      Windhover Information Inc (www.windhover.com), 
      an Elsevier company, has led the field in providing analysis of the 
      healthcare industry to decision-makers at all levels since the founding 
      of its flagship publication, IN VIVO, the Business & Medicine Report, in 
      1983. Windhover provides its information and analysis in many formats, 
      including print, electronic databases, international conferences and 
      webinars.
    
    
      About Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    
    
      Cortex, located in Irvine, California, is a neuroscience company focused 
      on novel drug therapies for treating psychiatric disorders, neurological 
      diseases and brain mediated breathing disorders. Cortex is pioneering a 
      class of proprietary pharmaceuticals called AMPAKINE compounds, which 
      act to increase the strength of signals at connections between brain 
      cells. The loss of these connections is thought to be responsible for 
      memory and behavior problems in Alzheimer’s 
      disease. Many psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, occur as a 
      result of imbalances in the brain’s 
      neurotransmitter system. These imbalances may be improved by using the 
      AMPAKINE technology. Cortex has an alliance with Schering-Plough 
      Corporation who acquired Cortex’s former 
      partner N.V. Organon in November 2007. As a result of this acquisition, 
      Schering-Plough has two AMPAKINE Phase II compounds Org24448 and Org 
      26576 for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In December 
      2006 Cortex terminated the research collaboration with Servier enabling 
      Cortex to pursue the use of AMPAKINE compounds in the treatment of 
      neurodegenerative diseases on a global basis. Servier retained the right 
      to select up to three compounds developed during the collaboration for 
      further development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. 
      Cortex may receive additional milestones and royalties if either Organon 
      or Servier is successful in developing and commercializing AMPAKINE 
      compounds. For additional information regarding Cortex, please visit 
      Cortex Pharmaceuticals’ website at http://www.cortexpharm.com.
    
    
      Forward-Looking Statement
    
    
      Note - This press release contains forward-looking statements 
      concerning the Company’s research and 
      development activities. The success of such activities depends on a 
      number of factors, including the risks that the Company’s 
      proposed compounds may at any time be found to be unsafe or ineffective 
      for the indications under pre-clinical or clinical tests and that such 
      studies may at any point be suspended or take substantially longer than 
      anticipated to complete. The forward-looking statements are necessarily 
      subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult or 
      impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the 
      control of Cortex, all as more fully described in the risk factors and 
      other matters set forth in Cortex’s Annual 
      Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and Cortex’s 
      other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, As discussed 
      in the Company’s Securities and Exchange 
      Commission filings, the Company’s proposed 
      products will require additional research, lengthy and costly clinical 
      testing and regulatory approval. AMPAKINE compounds are investigational 
      drugs and have not been approved for the treatment of any disease. 
      Cortex disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking 
      statements.