[October 01, 2014]

Zocere's Stroke Drug to Be Featured at BIO Investor Forum

Each year 750,000 Americans suffer an acute ischemic stroke yet less than five percent receive pharmacologic treatment because of risks associated with the current therapy. New Mexico-based Zocere has a "brain protecting" drug it believes has the potential to be the first neuroprotectant on the market, and will be pitching the idea to investors at the BIO Investor Forum October 7 and 8 in San Francisco.

The BIO Investor Forum is an international biotech investor conference focused on early and established companies, and features company presentations, partnering meetings, and business roundtables designed to connect companies seeking capital with investors and strategic partners.

Zocere CEO Wayne Laslie reports the company has raised a half million dollars from angel investors and a private equity fund, and is pursuing capital investment of about $1.5 million in exchange for equity in the company. Laslie estimate about $5 million is needed to collect the data required to file the Investigational New Drug (IND).

"The BIO Investor Forum has a reputation for successfully matching startup companies with investors. Seventy-one percent of all U.S. therapeutic companies that have had an IPO in 2013 had attended the BIO Investor Forum at least once in the past four years-that's very strong," said Laslie. "We believe we have a good story to tell: strong technology, a significant market and a great unmet need. There has not been a stroke drug introduced in more than 25 years."

Zocere's drug is based upon a STEP protein, a cell-permeable, recombinant peptide that shows promise as a brain saving drug when administered post stroke. It also shows potential for treating other brain trauma, including concussion. The drug candidate can be used as a standalone treatment as soon as a stroke victim exhibits symptoms, such as in an ambulance while being transported to a hospital, or in combination with other stroke treatments. The drug was discovered by Dr. Surojit Paul at the University of New Mexico and funded by NIH grants. Zocere has exclusive, global rights to the patent-pending technology.

?About Zocere, Inc.

Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Zocere is a pharmaceutical company developing injectable neuroprotectant drugs intended to combat stroke and other neurological trauma. Zocere is led by pharmaceutical industry executives with extensive experience in drug commercialization. Visit www.Zocere.com.

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