Knight Therapeutics Enters into Exclusive License Agreement with Supernus Pharmaceuticals for Qelbree® (viloxazine) in Canada
19 December 2023 - 11:30PM
Knight Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: GUD) ("Knight"), a pan-American
(ex-USA) specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that it
has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Supernus
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUPN) ("Supernus"), a
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing
products for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS)
diseases, granting Knight the rights to seek regulatory approval
and commercialize Qelbree® in Canada. Qelbree® is an
extended-release formulation of viloxazine, a multimodal
serotonergic and norepinephrine modulating agent (SNMA), a
nonstimulant medication for the treatment of Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Financial terms of the agreement
were not disclosed.
Qelbree® (viloxazine extended-release capsules)
is commercially available in the United States as a prescription
medicine to treat ADHD in patients 6 years of age and older. Based
on the results of 4 pivotal trials,1-4 Qelbree® was approved by the
US Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for the treatment of
children 6-17 years of age and in 2022 for the treatment of adults.
Qelbree® is also currently being studied in several phase 4
clinical trials5, the first of which is in combination with
psychostimulants for the treatment of children and adolescents with
ADHD (positive topline results reported in September 20236). A
second phase 4 clinical trial7 in preschool age children with ADHD
is planned to commence in January 2024. A third phase 4 clinical
trial9 is studying the impact of Qelbree® on co-morbid mood
symptoms prevalent in patients with ADHD.
“This partnership represents the continued
execution of our strategy of expanding our presence in CNS and
entering in one of the most important segments still presenting
relevant unmet medical needs,” said Samira Sakhia, President and
CEO of Knight. “We are excited to pursue regulatory approval and
bring a novel nonstimulant medication to enhance treatment of
patients living with ADHD.”
Supernus was able to identify in Knight the
right commercial experience and capabilities to get Qelbree®
approved and successfully launch it in Canada," said Jack Khattar,
President and CEO of Supernus Pharmaceuticals. "Supernus is proud
to support other regions and patients in need of innovative
solutions to overcome the challenges of treating a complex disease
such as ADHD."
About
ADHD8
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that
affects both children and adults. The estimated prevalence of ADHD
is 5-9% in children and 3-5% in adults. The disorder is
characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and
impulsivity that can significantly impact an individual's
ability to function in daily life. Although patients’ symptoms of
ADHD can change over time, they will generally require continued
monitoring and treatment over their lifetime. Current
pharmacotherapies for ADHD include amphetamine or
methylphenidate-based psychostimulants as well as long-acting
non-psychostimulant options. However, not all patients respond to
existing therapies. As a result, there remains a significant
medical need for additional treatment options for patients with
ADHD.
About Knight Therapeutics
Inc.
Knight Therapeutics Inc., headquartered in
Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on
acquiring or in-licensing and commercializing pharmaceutical
products for Canada and Latin America. Knight’s Latin American
subsidiaries operate under United Medical, Biotoscana Farma and
Laboratorio LKM. Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s shares trade on TSX
under the symbol GUD. For more information about Knight
Therapeutics Inc., please visit the company's web site at
www.knighttx.com or www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-Looking Statements for
Knight
This document contains forward-looking
statements for Knight Therapeutics Inc. and its subsidiaries. These
forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking
statements. Knight Therapeutics Inc. considers the assumptions on
which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable
at the time they were prepared but cautions the reader that these
assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the
control of Knight Therapeutics Inc. and its subsidiaries, may
ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks which could
cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations
are discussed in Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s Annual Report and in
Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s Annual Information Form for the year
ended December 31, 2022, as filed on www.sedarplus.ca. Knight
Therapeutics Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information or future events, except as required by law.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR KNIGHT:
Investor Contact: |
|
|
Knight Therapeutics Inc. |
|
|
Samira Sakhia |
|
Arvind Utchanah |
President & Chief Executive
Officer |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
T: 514.484.4483 |
|
T. +598.2626.2344 |
F: 514.481.4116 |
|
|
Email: IR@knighttx.com |
|
Email: IR@knighttx.com |
Website: www.knighttx.com |
|
Website: www.knighttx.com |
References:
- Nasser A et al.
(2020). A Phase III, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial to Assess
the Efficacy and Safety of Once-daily SPN-812 (Viloxazine
Extended-release) in the Treatment of
Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-age Children.
Clinical Therapeutics, 42(8), 1452-1466. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.05.021
- Nasser A et al.
(2021). Once-Daily SPN-812 200 and 400 mg in the treatment of ADHD
in School-aged Children: A Phase III Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Clinical Therapeutics, 43(4), 684-700. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.01.027
- Nasser A et al.
(2021). A Phase 3, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Once-Daily
Viloxazine Extended-Release Capsules in Adolescents With
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Clinical
Psychopharmacology, 41(4), 370-380. DOI:
10.1097/JCP.0000000000001404
- Nasser A et al.
(2022). A Phase III, Randomized, Double‑Blind, Placebo‑Controlled
Trial Assessing the Efcacy and Safety of Viloxazine
Extended‑Release Capsules in Adults with
Attention‑Defcit/Hyperactivity Disorder. CNS Drugs, 36(8), 897-915.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-022-00938-w
- US National
Library of Medicine. (2021, March 8 - ). Open-label study of
SPN-812 administered with psychostimulants in children and
adolescents with ADHD (ADHD). Identifier NCT04786990.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04786990
- Supernus
Announces New Qelbree® Data Showing Improvement in ADHD Symptoms.
(2023, September 10). Retrieved from
https://ir.supernus.com/node/13856/pdf
- US National
Library of Medicine. (2021, March 4 - ). Evaluation of SPN-812
(viloxazine extended-release capsule) in preschool-age children
with ADHD. Identifier NCT04781140.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04781140
- CADDRA -
Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance. (2020). Canadian ADHD Practice
Guidelines, 4.1 Edition.
https://adhdlearn.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Canadian-ADHD-Practice-Guidelines-4.1-January-6-2021.pdf
- Presented during
Supernus Pharmaceuticals R&D Day; October 18, 2023
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