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news.For commercialisation of GABA aminotransferase inhibitors and derivatives of vigabatrin
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Catalyst Pharmaceutical has executed a license agreement under which it has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to commercialise GABA aminotransferase inhibitors and derivatives of vigabatrin discovered by Northwestern University.
Catalyst plans to pursue development work on an undisclosed, lead oral compound that has already been identified.
Under the terms of the agreement, Northwestern University grants Catalyst an exclusive worldwide license to certain composition of matter patents related to the new class of inhibitors and a patent application relating to derivatives of vigabatrin. Catalyst will be responsible for the continued research and development of any resulting product candidates.
Northwestern University will receive from Catalyst an upfront payment, certain milestone payments relating to clinical development activities, and royalties on products resulting from the agreement.
Patrick McEnany, CEO of Catalyst, said: 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 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.