Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners to present overview of CPP-115 compound at epilepsy conference

Feb 18 2010

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX) announced today that it was selected by both the Scientific and Business Advisory Boards of the Epilepsy Therapy Project to present at the 2010 Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference, an in-depth, two day forum to be held February 25-26, 2010, at the Hyatt Embarcadero Hotel in San Francisco.  Charles W. Gorodetzky, M.D., Ph.D., Catalyst's Chief Medical Officer will present an overview of CPP-115, Catalyst's development stage anticonvulsant compound, as a potential treatment for a variety of epileptic conditions, including complex partial seizures and infantile spasms (West Syndrome).

"We are pleased to be invited to join such a prestigious roster of speakers," stated Dr. Gorodetzky.  "With the acquisition of worldwide rights to CPP-115, Catalyst will enter the epilepsy therapy arena with a very promising drug candidate. This meeting is an ideal venue to introduce our new compound.  Catalyst will present its initial development plans and explain why we believe this drug may have improved safety and efficacy characteristics compared with the current GABA aminotransferase inhibitor, Sabril®, to an audience of experts in the development and marketing of new and existing epilepsy therapies.  Catalyst looks forward to introducing this new compound as well as receiving valuable comments from these experts."

"CPP-115 works through the same mechanism of action as Sabril®, the marketed version of vigabatrin, which was recently approved by the FDA and is known to be an effective anti-epileptic. Compared to other anti-epileptics, CPP-115 could have a relatively benign neurological side effects profile," said Steven Miller, Ph.D., Catalyst's Chief Scientific Officer.  "CPP-115 was designed specifically to enhance the deactivation of GABA aminotransferase compared to Sabril®.  This enhanced action is expected to lead to significantly higher potency and may lead to reduced, or eliminated, visual field defects.  Sabril's® visual field defects are its most serious side effect and the main reason that the drug is sold only through a very restrictive Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.  We are hopeful that CPP-115 will prove to be an effective anti-epileptic with a more favorable safety and efficacy profile than Sabril®."

The conference features leading innovators, clinical investigators and industry leaders who provide insight into the discovery and development of pioneering drugs, biologics and devices for epilepsy with the goal of accelerating patient access to new treatments. The selected presenters are scheduled to discuss the most innovative therapies in development for epilepsy.