NeuroSearch, Teva deal
NeuroSearch sold Teva rights to Huntington's disease compound Huntexil pridopidine for DKK150 million ($26.1 million) up front, plus a potential DKK55 million ($9.6 million) in regulatory and commercial milestones. Teva said it believes Huntexil "holds promise for symptomatic relief of HD and merits additional study in late-stage clinical development." The company plans to conduct new clinical trials. In 2010, a meta-analysis of the Phase II HART and Phase III MermaiHD trials showed that Huntexil significantly improved total motor score of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), but missed the primary endpoint of modified motor score. FDA and EMA subsequently asked for additional Phase III trials to support regulatory submissions.
In May, NeuroSearch said Huntexil led to dose-dependent QT prolongation that reached a "level of clinical concern" compared to placebo in a Phase I trial. At the time, NeuroSearch said it would implement additional safety measures in its clinical programs of Huntexil, including the North American Phase II Open-HART trial in 118 HD patients and its European compassionate use program (see BioCentury, June 4). ...