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news.Cortex Pharmaceuticals has reattained worldwide rights for the development and commercialisation of Ampakine compounds for the treatment of schizophrenia and depression from Organon.
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Previously, Cortex Pharma signed a research agreement with Organon, now a subsidiary of Merck, providing Organon an exclusive, worldwide right to develop and commercialise the schizophrenia and depression treatment, Ampakine compounds.
As part of an ongoing prioritisation process, Merck has decided not to proceed further with its Ampakine development program, and has returned its exclusive rights to develop Ampakine compounds to Cortex Pharma.
Cortex Pharma president and CEO Mark Varney said that the return of these rights to Cortex now allows them to develop their lead Ampakine compounds for these serious psychiatric disorders.
“Data from animal models suggests Ampakine compounds could treat the cognitive deficits that occur in as much as 75% of individuals with schizophrenia,” Varney said.
“In addition, recent animal work suggests Ampakine compounds like CX1739 could be effective therapies for depression, and could potentially provide a much more rapid onset of antidepressant activity and represent a completely new mechanism of treating this disorder.”