SciFluor Life Sciences Awarded U.S. Patent for KCNQ2/3 Activator Designed for Treatment of Epilepsy & Related Neurological Di...
January 08 2015 - 2:00AM
Business Wire
- Patent-protected neuronal potassium
channel activator could potentially become best-in-class treatment
for multiple indications.
- Current addressable markets are
partial-onset epilepsy and the orphan disease, KCNQ2
encephalopathy, with additional indications under evaluation.
- Issuance of second patent validates
SciFluor’s innovative approach to small molecule drug discovery by
the strategic incorporation of fluorine.
SciFluor Life Sciences, LLC, an emerging clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company that creates innovative therapeutics for
patients with ophthalmologic and neurologic disease, announced
today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued
U.S. Patent No. 8,916,133 with claims covering the novel compound
SF0034. SciFluor’s SF0034 is a potent and selective neuronal
potassium channel activator, designed to be a significantly
improved version of the first-in-class KCNQ2/3 activator drug,
ezogabine (POTIGA®). POTIGA was approved in 2011 for treatment of
partial-onset epilepsy in adults, but its clinical use was severely
restricted in 2013 due to latent toxicities which are not thought
to be associated with its mechanism of action.
Scott Edwards, Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager, said,
“The issuance of the patent covering SF0034 provides further
validation of our fluorine-centered approach to rapidly discover
new transformational therapies for patients with serious illnesses.
SF0034 demonstrates how the appropriate fluorine-containing
modifications can improve the potency and selectivity of a molecule
to address efficacy and safety liabilities.”
Dr. Edwards is the lead on the SF0034 therapeutic program, which
is targeted for development in partial-onset epilepsy and
potentially for the recently identified orphan disease, a rare
pediatric disorder known as KCNQ2 encephalopathy. The Company is
also evaluating SF0034’s therapeutic potential for other diseases
such as tinnitus and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou
Gehrig’s disease).
“The team’s ability to rapidly evolve this candidate and to
obtain its second issued patent in a short period of time is
outstanding. Protecting this lead compound in such an enormous
field as epilepsy is highly impressive. We are excited to advance
this compound into the clinic for multiple indications. This is the
second of many opportunities at SciFluor that we are pursuing to
strategically capitalize on the transformational power of fluorine
through internal development. We are also now preparing for
partnerships with other innovative pharma companies,” said Omar
Amirana, MD, SciFluor’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice
President at Allied Minds.
SciFluor is a subsidiary of Allied Minds (LSE: ALM), an
innovative U.S. science and technology development and
commercialization company.
About SF0034
SciFluor is developing SF0034, a potent and selective small
molecule activator of the neuronal potassium channel, KCNQ2/3. The
improved selectivity reduces the likelihood of side-effects that
are caused by activation of related potassium channels. SF0034 has
also been shown to not form the “dimers” that have were reported at
the 2014 American Epilepsy Society to play a role in the dermal and
ocular toxicity that have been observed with ezogabine. SF0034 has
been shown to be potent in a significant battery of in vivo models
of epilepsy conducted by the National Institutes of Health.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological problem
with an estimated global prevalence of 65 million – only migraine,
stroke and Alzheimer’s disease occur more frequently. It is
best regarded as a spectrum of brain disorders ranging from severe,
life-threatening and disabling, to more benign. A number of
anti-epileptic drugs have been approved and for certain patients
surgical intervention is helpful. However, roughly 30% of patients
do not respond to any available therapy highlighting a significant
need for new, safe, and effective therapeutic drugs to treat this
debilitating condition.
About SciFluor Life Sciences LLC
SciFluor Life Sciences is a drug discovery company applying
expertise in fluorine chemistry to create a portfolio of
differentiated best-in-class therapeutics. The company creates new
chemical entities (NCEs) directed towards precedented biological
targets. SciFluor strategically incorporates fluorine or
fluorine-containing groups to design drugs with improved
pharmacological profiles that provide important benefits over
existing therapies such as improved safety, efficacy, more
convenient dosing, and better patient compliance. This
capital-efficient and de-risked drug discovery approach has
resulted in the generation of a proprietary pipeline of novel and
differentiated small molecule drugs across a range of therapeutic
categories and disease areas including retinal disease, CNS
disorders, and inflammatory disease.
About Allied Minds
Allied Minds (LSE: ALM) is an innovative U.S. science and
technology development and commercialization
company. Operating since 2006, Allied Minds forms, funds,
manages and builds products and businesses based on innovative
technologies developed at leading U.S. universities and federal
research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding
company that supports its businesses and product
development with capital, central management and
shared services. More information about the Boston-based company
can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
Allied Minds Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains statements that are or may be
forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to the
company’s future prospects, developments and strategies. The
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and
are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ
materially from current expectations, including, but not limited
to, those risk and uncertainties described in the risk factors
included in the company’s regulatory filings. These forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions regarding the present and
future business strategies of the company and the environment in
which it will operate in the future. Each forward-looking statement
speaks only as at the date of this press release. Except as
required by law, regulatory requirement, the Prospectus Rules, the
Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, neither
the company nor any other party intends to update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
POTIGA is a trademark of Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America
LLC.
Media Contact:ArcPoint Strategic CommunicationsChristine
Dunn, 617-484-1660 x101cdunn@arcpointstrategy.com
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