Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBs) are used to induce total paralysis to permit intubation and muscle relaxation during surgery or in ventilated patients. NMBs permit a very rapid induction of neuromuscular blockade at the onset of use, and the reversal agent will provide for more rapid reversal of the neuromuscular blockade. We are developing an intermediate-acting NMB, BX-1000, an ultrashort-acting NMB, BX-2000, and a reversal agent (BX-3000) specific to our NMBs. The table below summarizes the predicted onset and duration of action for each NMB based on currently available data, as well as the development status of each NMB:

Compound Onset Time Duration of Action Status
BX-1000 Rapid Intermediate-acting Phase I
BX-2000 Rapid Ultra-short acting Pre-IND

In animal models, the proprietary reversal agent acts quickly by chemical reaction to reverse the neuromuscular blockade. We believe that the NMBs can reduce the time required for induction of anesthesia and the reversal agent can reduce the time needed to recover from NMB dosing post-procedure, while potentially enhancing patient safety and resulting in cost savings for the hospital or another provider.

More information on our neuromuscular blocking agents and reversal agent can be found in the following publications:

Compound Reference
BX-1000 Heerdt PM, Sunaga H, Owen JS, et al. Dose-response and cardiopulmonary side effects of the novel neuromuscular blocking drug CW 002 in man. Anesthesiology 2016;125(6):1136-1143.
  Sunaga H, Savarese JJ, McGilvra JD, et al. Preclinical Pharmacology of CW002:A Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Drug of Intermediate Duration, Degraded and Antagonized by L-cysteine - Additional Studies of Safety and Efficacy in the Anesthetized Rhesus Monkey and Cat. Anesthesiology 2016;125(4):732-743
  Kaullen JD, Owen JS, Brouwer KLR, et al. Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model of CW002, an Investigational Intermediate Neuromuscular Blocking Agent, in Healthy Volunteers. Anesthesiology 2018;128(6):1107-1116.
BX-2000 Savarese JJ, Sunaga H, McGilvra JD, et al. Preclinical Pharmacology in the Rhesus Monkey of CW 1759-50, a New Ultra-short Acting Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agent, Degraded and Antagonized by L-Cysteine. Anesthesiology 2018;129:970-988.
BX-3000 Savarese JJ, McGilvra JD, Sunaga H, et al. Rapid Chemical Antagonism of Neuromuscular Blockade by L-Cysteine Adduction to and Inactivation of the Olefinic (Double-bonded) Isoquinolinium Diester Compounds Gantacurium (AV430A), CW002, and CW011. Anesthesiology 2010;113:58-73.

We have a worldwide, exclusive license to the NMBs and the related reversal agent from Cornell University.