CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced today that the Company executed a license agreement under which it acquired exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize novel GABA aminotransferase inhibitors and derivatives of vigabatrin discovered by Northwestern University. These compounds may have applications to a broad range of neurological diseases, including addiction and epilepsy. Catalyst intends to pursue development work on an undisclosed, lead oral compound that has already been identified.
“The agreement with Northwestern University further demonstrates our continuing commitment to developing drugs for the treatment of addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorders and complements our current development platform in several areas,” said Patrick McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. “First, this new class of GABA aminotransferase inhibitors is at least 200 times more potent than CPP-109, Catalyst’s version of vigabatrin, in in vitro enzyme inhibition kinetics studies. The increased potency could enable the development of superior or alternative dosage forms compared with CPP-109. These compounds may also have superior specificity to GABA aminotransferase and, possibly, a better side effect profile (e.g. less visual field defects) compared to CPP-109. Second, the composition of matter patents for these compounds will ensure exclusivity well beyond the expected exclusivity for CPP-109 and represent an important component in Catalyst’s life cycle management of its GABA aminotransferase inhibitor franchise. Based on our reviews of patents and the literature, CPP-109 and these compounds are currently the only ones in development or on the market having GABA aminotransferase inhibition as its primary mode of action. Finally, the new class of compounds will also allow us to explore broader CNS applications that could benefit from the blockade of GABA aminotransferase, including the treatment of epilepsy.”
“We are delighted to partner with Catalyst,” said Dr. Silverman. “This is another great example of the ability of Northwestern scientists to make exciting discoveries with potential commercial therapeutic applications and to partner with innovative companies such as Catalyst.”
Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a leading private research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 7,000 full-time graduate and professional students on campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Northwestern provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago. For more information, go to: www.northwestern.edu.
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of prescription drugs for the treatment of addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorders. The Company has obtained from Brookhaven National Laboratory an exclusive worldwide license for nine patents in the United States relating to the right to use vigabatrin to treat a wide variety of substance addictions and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Catalyst has also been granted rights to Brookhaven’s vigabatrin-related foreign patents or patents pending in more than 30 countries. The Company’s initial product candidate based on vigabatrin is CPP-109. CPP-109 has been granted “Fast Track” status by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cocaine addiction. This indicates that the FDA has recognized that CPP-109 is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition for which there is no effective treatment and which demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs. For more information about the Company, go to www.catalystpharma.com.
SOURCE Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc.
CONTACT: Patrick McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst
Pharmaceutical, +1-305-529-2522, pmcenany@catalystpharma.com; or Melody
Carey, Co-President of Rx Communications Group, +1-917-322-2571,
mcarey@rxir.com
Web site: http://www.catalystpharma.com/
