CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 27, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX ), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel prescription drugs targeting rare (orphan) neuromuscular and neurological diseases, today announced that its investigational product Firdapse™ (amifampridine phosphate) has received "Breakthrough Therapy Designation" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the symptomatic treatment of patients with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). Firdapse™ is Catalyst's investigational therapy that is being evaluated for the treatment of the debilitating symptoms associated with LEMS, including muscle weakness.
"We are very pleased to have received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Firdapse™ and we are excited by the FDA's decision to place our product in a category that may enable expedited development and review for patients with LEMS," said Patrick McEnany, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. "With no approved or effective symptomatic treatment currently available for LEMS, Firdapse™ has the potential to be the first-line treatment option for patients with this rare condition."
Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Firdapse™ was based on clinical data from several previously published clinical trials of amifampridine (3,4-DAP) in patients with LEMS. Firdapse™ has the potential to provide significant relief of the often debilitating symptoms of the disease, including muscle weakness (e.g. difficulty walking), difficulty swallowing and talking, drooping of eyelids and facial weakness.
About Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Breakthrough Therapy Designation was enacted as part of the 2012 Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA). FDASIA defines breakthrough therapy as a drug that is "intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development."
A breakthrough therapy designation conveys all of the fast track program features, as well as more intensive FDA guidance on an efficient drug development program. The FDA also has an organizational commitment to involve senior management in such guidance. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is a distinct status from both accelerated approval and priority review, which can also be granted to the same drug if relevant criteria are met.
About Firdapse™
Firdapse™, also known as amifampridine phosphate, 3,4-diaminopyridine phosphate or 3,4-DAP phosphate, is a potassium channel blocker. It delays repolarization of the pre-synaptic neuron, causing voltage gated Ca2+ channels to remain open longer. The increase Ca2+ influx causes more acetylcholine to be released, making it more likely that a muscle action potential will be initiated, thereby reducing muscle weakness. The North American rights to Firdapse™ were licensed to the Company in 2012 by BioMarin Pharmaceutical. BioMarin currently markets Firdapse™ in the EU for the treatment of LEMS.
In the United States, where the product has previously received orphan drug designation, Firdapse™ is in a Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized discontinuation study followed by an open-label extension period to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Firdapse™ in patients with LEMS. In addition to LEMS, other potential orphan neuromuscular indications for Firdapse™ include Myasthenia Gravis and Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome, among others.
About LEMS
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, LEMS, is a rare autoimmune disease that can be severely disabling, with the primary symptom of muscle weakness. The weakness is generally more marked in the proximal muscles, particularly of the legs and trunk. Other problems include reduced reflexes, drooping of the eyelids, facial weakness and problems with swallowing. Patients often report dry mouth, impotence, constipation and feelings of light headedness on standing. These problems can be life threatening when the weakness involves respiratory muscles. The muscle weakness in LEMS is caused by autoantibodies to voltage gated calcium channels, which cause a reduction in the amount of acetylcholine released from nerve terminals. The prevalence of LEMS is estimated at approximately 3,000 patients in the United States and Canada. Approximately 50 percent of LEMS patients diagnosed have small cell lung cancer. Patients with LEMS typically present with fatigue, muscle pain and stiffness. A diagnosis of LEMS is generally made on the basis of clinical symptoms, electromyographic and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) testing and where available, the presence of autoantibodies against voltage gated calcium channel.
About Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel prescription drugs targeting rare (orphan) neuromuscular and neurological diseases, including Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), infantile spasms, and Tourette Syndrome. Catalyst's lead candidate, Firdapse™ for the treatment of LEMS, is currently undergoing testing in a global, multi-center, pivotal phase III trial. Catalyst is also developing a potentially safer and more potent vigabatrin analog (designated CPP-115) to treat infantile spasms, and epilepsy, as well as other neurological conditions associated with reduced GABAergic signaling, like post-traumatic stress disorder and Tourette Syndrome.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including the timing of completion of Catalyst's currently ongoing Phase III trial of Firdapse™, whether the Phase III trial will be successful, whether the receipt of breakthrough therapy designation for Firdapse™ will expedite the development and review of Firdapse™ by the FDA or the likelihood that the product will be found to be safe and effective, whether an NDA for Firdapse™ will ever be accepted for filing by the FDA, the timing of any such NDA filing or acceptance, whether any of Catalyst's product candidates will ever be approved for commercialization or successfully commercialized, and those other factors described in Catalyst's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2012 and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst's website or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.
For Further Information Contact: Patrick J. McEnany Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Chief Executive Officer (305) 529-2522 Melody Carey Rx Communications Group Co-President (917) 322-2571
