Zalicus Inc. ($ZLCS) is proceeding with a Phase I clinical trial of a new pain drug designed to use "multiple state-of-the-art" drug delivery techniques so it is more soluble and present in the body than in a previous version. The Cambridge, MA, company formally known as CombinatoRx said an earlier version of the novel oral N-type calcium channel blocker was tested in more than 200 patients. While that version may have been less soluble, the drug was well tolerated, Zalicus said. The new study will assess the drug's activity and safety through the end of 2011 and into early 2012. If all goes well, a Phase II trial for the drug will commence soon after, Zalicus President and CEO Mark Corrigan said in a statement. Release