CyDex, a company born out of research at Kansas University, is changing its name to reflect the company’s growth into new markets.

CyDex Inc. now is known as CyDex Pharmaceuticals Inc., the company announced Tuesday. The move emphasizes the company’s current focus on developing and commercializing its pharmaceutical product candidates, rather than focusing on a single technology that improves the solubility of drugs.

“We determined to change our name to reflect the current focus of our company,” said John M. Siebert, chief executive officer for CyDex Pharmaceuticals. “The goal is to create an identity that captures the new CyDex, and to maintain a cohesive and professional image in all of our communications.”

Lenexa-based CyDex’s pipeline includes oral, parenteral and inhaled drug candidates designed to address unmet needs in treating asthma, depression, allergy, cancer, arrhythmia and other health problems.

CyDex was founded in 1993 to commercialize drug-formulation technologies developed by scientists at KU’s Higuchi Biosciences Center.

The company’s Web site now is www.cydexpharma.com.