Mark Blumling, Managing Director of Relevare Pharmaceuticals said: "Flupirtine has been used safely as an analgesic in Germany for over 20 years, and we are pleased with the results of this extension study, which focused on the hard to treat area of painful HIV neuropathy."

The Alfred Hospital has guaranteed funding for the ongoing supply of flupirtine for all patients who completed the open-label study, under the TGA Special Access Scheme. Patients who completed the open-label study at St Vincent's Hospital are also continuing treatment with flupirtine via the Alfred Hospital.

"There is significant is demand for new treatment options among patients with neuropathic pain resulting from conditions such as HIV, cancer and diabetes.  We look forward to commencing a 300 patient phase IIb/III trial later this year with patients in Europe and Australia who suffer from opioid resistant cancer pain," he said.