Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced that the company executed a license agreement under which it acquired exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize novel GABA aminotransferase inhibitors and derivatives of vigabatrin discovered by Northwestern University. These compounds may have applications to a broad range of neurological diseases, including addiction and epilepsy. Catalyst intends to pursue development work on an undisclosed, lead oral compound that has already been identified.

Under the terms of the agreement, Northwestern University granted 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. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The agreement with Northwestern University further demonstrates our continuing commitment to developing drugs for the treatment of addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorders and complements our current development platform in several areas," said Patrick McEnany, chief executive officer of Catalyst. "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 (e.g. less visual field defects) 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."

Dr. Richard B. Silverman, the John Evans Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, led the team of scientists that invented these compounds. Dr. Silverman holds 41 patents and is the inventor of pregabalin (Lyrica). He is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the 2009 Perkin Medal, has published over 250 peer reviewed articles, and has written four books over his 33 year career in academia.

"We are delighted to partner with Catalyst," said Dr. Silverman. "This is another great example of the ability of Northwestern scientists to make exciting discoveries with potential commercial therapeutic applications and to partner with innovative companies such as Catalyst."

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a leading private research and teaching university with an enrolment of approximately 8,000 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 7,000 full-time graduate and professional students on campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois.

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of prescription drugs for the treatment of addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorders.