Otsuka Pharma (Japan) bought Avanir for $3.5B in c

Otsuka Pharma (Japan) bought Avanir for $3.5B in cash in 2014. Otsuka wanted Avanir's AVP-786 for pseudobulbar affect (PBA) and its possible use to treat aggression in Alzheimer's patients.

Otsuka now has a monopoly on the the atypical antipsychotics (Aripiprazole and Brexpiprazole) currently being tested in PIIIs for agitation/aggression in dementia. They also now own AVP-786 with the $3.5B Avanir purchase.

Feuerstein once called AVP-786 "overpriced cough syrup" before it was sold to Otsuka for $3.5B.

IMO, Eltoprazine is advantageous over using antipsychotics to treat agitation in Alzheimer's patients, as I suspect families of Alzheimer's patients would prefer their loved ones not be on antipsychotics if an equally effective alternative existed. That leaves AVP-786.

Let's see how the AVP-786 PIII trial in Alzheimer's patients with aggression goes. Even if it goes well, I think there is still a huge market opportunity for Eltoprazine in treating aggression/agitation in dementia patients.

Hopefully Chang Heng Fai agrees and can get Elto into a larger Phase IIB study.

Remember, Otsuka paid $3.5B cash for AVP-786

AMBS