VERNALIS BEGINS PAIN DRUG TRIAL

Vernalis has announced that its postoperative pain drug V1003, an intranasal formulation of buprenorphin, has started clinical Phase II testing.

The randomized Phase II study with 360 patients will compare the efficacy of V1003 to placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe pain. The study will also provide information about the speed of onset and tolerability of the compound. The trial is expected to end in the first half of 2006.