IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2006 - VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will be presenting on Thursday, February 23, 2006, at 11:40 A.M. at Medtech Insight and Windhover Information's "Investment In Innovation (In3) WEST: A Preview of Early-Stage Medical Technology Companies" Conference, February 23-24, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine in Irvine, California.

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is an umbrella term that includes three closely related medical conditions: angina (chest pain), heart attack (myocardial infarction, "MI") and heart failure (congestive heart failure, "CHF"). Combined, these three conditions represent the number-one cause of death and number-one medical expense in the U.S. To treat ACS, VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals is developing CGRP (Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide), which is produced by the human body as a natural response to ischemic insult -- i.e., the deprivation of oxygen to heart tissue.

"When patients arrive at the Emergency Room (ER) suffering from the symptoms of a heart attack, physicians act quickly to determine the cause and location of the MI, and then take appropriate action to restore blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle," explains Lee Southard, Ph.D., CEO of VasoGenix. "The body's natural response to a heart attack is to release CGRP to facilitate crucial life-sustaining actions meant to minimize heart muscle damage, subsequent remodeling and scar tissue formation, while promoting the healing process. In short, CGRP appears to be the perfect heart drug. But the peripheral nerves around the heart that store CGRP can release only a limited amount, which is insufficient to provide the necessary response. Interestingly, CGRP -- in a variety of studies -- not only has demonstrated positive effects on the three medically related conditions of ACS (Angina, Myocardial Infarction and Congestive Heart Failure), but also on kidney function. Scientific studies suggest that infusion of CGRP to ACS patients upon admission to the ER could save heart muscle and minimize cardiac tissue damage. This bodes well for the pipeline of cardiac conditions that CGRP could potentially treat," says Dr. Southard. "But as in all pharmaceutical development programs there must be a focus on the indication that has the best potential for earliest success and minimum risk. With the help of the Cleveland Clinic Cardiology Group and our Clinical Research Steering Committee, we will focus our initial trial on Heart Failure patients who have compromised kidney function. This is an important indication because it will capitalize on the three properties of CGRP that lead us to believe it is the perfect heart drug. Patients with compromised heart and renal function are very sick and in need of effective therapy. The promise of CGRP as a frontline treatment in this area is very exciting," concludes Dr. Southard.

A division of Windhover Information Inc., Medtech Insight is the leading provider of business information and market intelligence for the medical technology marketplace. In3 WEST is Medtech Insight's 20th investment and partnering event to date. To register to attend or for more information on Medtech Insight, please call Kristy Grimes at 480-985-9512 or 888-202-5939 toll-free in the U.S., e-mail kristy@medtechinsight.com, or visit www.medtechinsight.com.

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