Supernus Pharmaceuticals said it has agreed to acquire Biscayne Neurotherapeutics for up to $185 million, in a deal that adds a Phase I epilepsy candidate to the buyer’s pipeline of treatments for central nervous system disorders.
The epilepsy candidate, which Supernus will rename SPN-817, uses a novel synthetic form of huperzine A, an acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor that according to the company has a novel mechanism of action and has shown anticonvulsant activity in preclinical models for partial seizures and Dravet Syndrome.
Supernus said it plans on studying SPN-817 initially in catastrophic pediatric epilepsy disorders, such as Dravet Syndrome, with an initial focus on the drug’s anticonvulsant activity.
A Phase I proof-of-concept trial (NCT03474770) launched by Biscayne has begun assessing the safety and pharmacokinetics profile of a new extended release formulation of the drug in adults with refractory complex partial seizures. The trial’s primary endpoint is reduction in average daily seizure count between baseline (pre-treatment) and evaluation (on treatment) video EEG monitoring periods.