DRUG CANDIDATES FOR TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY AND/OR NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Technology The subject of this in-licensing offer is a number of drug candidates for treatment of epilepsy and/or neuropathic pain. The group of 80 molecules, containing two in late preclinical phase, have been developed by researchers of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Jagiellonian University Medical College. The two most active molecules have been tested in an array of pre-clinical assays; their efficacy has been evaluated and confirmed in vivo. The key features of the offered compounds are: • small molecules, • sodium channel blockers, • complete physicochemical analyses performed, • well described solubility and stability – the compounds fulfill the Lipinski rule of five, • enantiomers differentiated by pharmacodynamics, • broad spectrum of efficacy in both epilepsy and neuropathic pain models – exceeding currently available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), • efficacy in focal seizures and pharmacoresistant seizures exceeding other AEDs, • long duration of activity, • extensively tested in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo for other possible mechanisms of action, • well tested for possible side effects: • shown broad safety, no mutagenicity, minimal CYP influence. Several molecules underwent proof of concept studies within the Antiepileptic Drug Development program at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health). To date, complete proof of concept documentation for one of the selected molecules is available. The molecules are subject to international patent application and have clear intellectual property status.