Sepracor: Beyond Meridia

While Knoll Pharmaceutical Co. markets its Meridia sibutramine neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor to treat obesity, the active ingredients may have more widespread potential. To pursue that potential, Sepracor Inc. plans to develop both chiral isomers of desmethylsibutramine, which are the active forms of the two components of the racemic sibutramine. While both isomers are neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitors, each will be developed for a distinct non-obesity indication in either neurological or urological disease.

Last week SEPR began Phase I testing of the (+)-desmethylsibutramine (DMS) isomer to treat neurological indications including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression. The company also plans to begin Phase I trials in the first half of the year of the opposite (-)-DMS isomer to treat urological conditions such as erectile dysfunction and urinary stress incontinence...