Milan, Italy – October 14, 2009 - Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (“Newron”), a research and development company focused on novel CNS and pain therapies, announced that it is to return the rights to a phase I compound, HF0420, to its inventors. The compound was acquired as part of the pipeline of Hunter-Fleming Ltd which Newron purchased in 2008.
HF0420, a low molecular weight heparin product with potential use in the treatment of certain CNS diseases, was licensed to Hunter-Fleming by its inventor, Professor Umberto Cornelli, Professor of Pharmacology at Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, who carried out its early-stage development in collaboration with other researchers from the same university.
Under the Agreement reached by Newron with Professor Cornelli, clinical development of HF0420 will be pursued by him and his co-inventors from Loyola University, who intend to conduct further research into indications including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In return, Newron shall receive undisclosed milestone payments and royalties on the successful development and commercialization of the compound in any indication.
From its acquisition of Hunter-Fleming, Newron has selected the more advanced compound, HF0220, for clinical development. HF0220, a potential first-in-class disease-modifying agent for neurodegenerative diseases, has shown strong neuro-protective effects in several experimental models of neurotoxicity, and good safety and tolerability in a phase IIa trial in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
About Newron Pharmaceuticals
Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (www.newron.com) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for diseases of the Central Nervous System and pain. Newron is undertaking phase III trials with safinamide for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in conjunction with its partner, Merck Serono, which has exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the compound in PD, Alzheimer’s disease, and other therapeutic applications. Newron recently initiated SERENA, a potentially pivotal study with ralfinamide in patients with neuropathic low back pain (NLBP). There are no approved drugs for the treatment of NLBP, an indication experienced by about 55 m patients in the USA, Europe and Japan. Newron is headquartered in Bresso, near Milan, Italy. The company is listed at SIX Swiss Exchange, trading symbol NWRN.
