The objective of Spinifex is to further develop the discoveries made by Prof Smith into a therapeutic drug for neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The founder CEO, Dr Michael Thurn, was successful in securing seed funding from an initial Australia-based venture capital syndicate.

Spinifex submitted an investigational new drug application to the US FDA for the development of EMA 401 to treat neuropathic pain in 2008. "We continue to submit data to this IND and keep FDA updated on our worldwide development activities. The ultimate aim is to submit an NDA for EMA401 and also seek approval in other jurisdictions, like Europe and Japan. The timing of submitting a marketing authorization will depend on the progress of our clinical program. We hope to conclude our initial phase II neuropathic pain clinical trial in patients suffering from post herpetic neuralgia. We also hope to make good progress in our phase II clinical trial in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy patients. In five years, we hope to have shown that an angiotensin II type 2 receptor antagonist is an important new treatment for neuropathic pain," says Dr Tom McCarthy.