Formerly doing business as Cortex Pharmaceuticals (previously traded as OTCBB:CORX) , RespireRx Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of Sleep Apnea, drug-induced Respiratory Depression, and other brain mediated breathing disorders. In August 2012, Cortex had merged with privately held Pier Pharmaceuticals in an all stock transaction, with Pier becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cortex -In August 2102, Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously traded as OTCBB:CORX) and Pier Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced a merger under which Cortex and Pier have merged in an all-stock transaction, with Pier becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cortex. Cortex Pharmaceuticals has multiple drug development programs that are targeted towards the treatment of brain-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive or central sleep apnea and drug-induced respiratory depression. One key program involves the development of positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA-type glutamate receptor (PAM-A compounds) which can prevent and/or rescue respiratory depression, a potentially lethal side effect of opiate analgesics or anesthetic agents such as propofol, without affecting the beneficial analgesic or anesthetic activity of such agents. PAM-A compounds work by normalizing the brain circuitry involved in the control of breathing. Cortex has recently identified and patented several new chemical series of PAM-A compounds that have the ability to enhance respiratory rhythmogenesis or ‘pacemaking’ when it is reduced by CNS depressants. A second key clinical development area is the treatment of sleep apnea, a large and growing market with no available drug treatment. Sleep apnea is the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep, caused either by obstruction of the upper airway in the throat (obstructive sleep apnea, OSA) or by lack of signaling from the brain (central sleep apnea, CSA). Individuals with sleep apnea often have excessive daytime sleepiness, and are at greater risk for cardiovascular conditions such as stroke, hypertension and ultimately heart failure. Through a recent merger, the Company acquired clinical stage technology focused on the use of oral dronabinol to treat OSA. A pilot clinical study showed that dronabinol reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), an hourly sleep apnea score, in patients with moderate-severe OSA. This clinical research of dronabinol in OSA is being further assessed in a larger 120 patient proof of concept clinical study funded by the National Institute of Health.
