Biotie Therapies

Last updated
Biotie Therapies Oyj
Type Publicly traded
Nasdaq Helsinki:  BTH1V
Nasdaq: BITI
Industry Biotechnology
Founded1998
Headquarters Turku, Finland
Key people
Markku Jalkanen (Founding CEO) Timo Veromaa (CEO), Peter Fellner (Chairman of the Board)
RevenueIncrease2.svg € 4.8 million (2012) [1] : p. 11 
Increase2.svg (€25.6 million) (2012) [1] : p. 11 
Number of employees
38 (end 2012) [1] : p. 8 
Website Biotie.com

Biotie Therapies was a Finnish biotechnology and pharmaceutics company that was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics in January 2016. The company's research and development was focused on drugs for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders, alcohol and drug dependence and post traumatic stress disorder, and inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease. The company's headquarters is in Turku, Western Finland, and it is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

Contents

Overview

Biotie Therapies was formed in the merger of Biotie Therapies Corp. (incorporated in 1998), [2] Oy Contral Pharma Ltd and Carbion Inc in the year 2002. In 2008, Biotie Therapies acquired the German pharmaceutical discovery and development company Elbion GmbH in Radebeul. In 2010 Biotie Therapies all preclinical assets were transferred into a new company, biocrea GmbH, in which Biotie become a minority shareholder. In 2011, Biotie acquired a pharmaceutical company, Synosia. [3]

The company has partnering agreements with H. Lundbeck A/S and UCB. [4] [5]

In January 2016, Acorda Therapeutics acquired Biotie Therapies for $363 million. [6]

Product pipeline

NameTarget indicationsPartnerStatus
Selincro (nalmefene) alcohol dependence Lundbeck EU marketing authorization received [7]
Tozadenant SYN115 Parkinson's disease UCB Phase III clinical trials to start 2015 [8]
VAP-1 antibody inflammatory diseases - Phase I clinical trials ready, seeking partner
SYN120 AD, cognitive disorders - Phase I clinical trials ready, seeking partner
Nepicastat SYN117 PTSD, cocaine dependency NIDA PTSD: Phase II clinical trials, results [9]
Cocaine dependency: Phase II clinical trials, in progress
Ronomilast COPD - Phase I clinical trials ready, seeking partner
Nitisinone SYN118 Movement disorder UCB Phase II clinical trials, terminated [10]
Sources: [11]

Selincro (nalmefene)

The company's most advanced product, Nalmefene, for the treatment of alcoholism. Biotie's partner H. Lundbeck A/S received European marketing authorization from the European Commission on 28 February 2013. Lundbeck expects to launch Selincro in its first markets in the middle of 2013. [7]

Studies have shown, that nalmefene has the ability to significantly limit both the patient's average alcohol intake and the number of days with an intake above five units of alcohol. The drug works by removing the patient's desire to drink more, thereby controlling and limiting the intake of alcohol. The drug will be used in tablet form, and taken only according to need. According to the company, this is a novel approach for alcohol dependency treatment; existing treatments are aimed at keeping the patient from drinking and the drugs have to be taken continuously over a longer period of time. [4] [12] [13]

Tozadenant

SYN115, also called tozadenant, was developed as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease or other CNS disorders. [14] It was an orally administered, potent and [selective inhibitor of the adenosine A2A receptor.

In January 2016, the company was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics, for US$363 million. [15] In November 2017, the company announced discontinuation of the agent following the death of 5 patients enrolled in the tozadenant Phase III trial from agranulocytosis and associated severe adverse events possibly related to tozadenant. [16] [17]

VAP-1

Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) monoclonal antibody - intended for treatment of inflammatory diseases, is currently in Phase I clinical trials with rheumatoid arthritis patients. According to the company, inhibiting VAP-1 reduces inflammation by regulating the migration of leukocytes, or white blood cells, to inflamed tissues. Pathological accumulation of white blood cells in tissue is a common feature in many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis.

Nepicastat

SYN117 also called nepicastat is a treatment for cocaine dependency and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is orally administered, potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH). [18]

Ronomilast

Ronomilast is a PDE4 inhibitor for chronic inflammatory disorders. It is a small molecule phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (PDE4). The product is developed for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Data from pre-clinical and early clinical trials indicates that the product has a good safety profile. Biotie is in the process of planning a Phase 2 trial in COPD patients and also seeking a partner for late-stage development of ronomilast. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lundbeck</span> International Pharmaceutical Firm

H. Lundbeck A/S is a Danish international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company’s products are targeted at brain diseases, including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and migraine.

<small>L</small>-DOPA Chemical compound

l-DOPA, also known as levodopa and l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is made and used as part of the normal biology of some plants and animals, including humans. Humans, as well as a portion of the other animals that utilize l-DOPA, make it via biosynthesis from the amino acid l-tyrosine. l-DOPA is the precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline), which are collectively known as catecholamines. Furthermore, l-DOPA itself mediates neurotrophic factor release by the brain and CNS. In some plant families, l-DOPA is the central precursor of a biosynthetic pathway that produces a class of pigments called betalains. l-DOPA can be manufactured and in its pure form is sold as a psychoactive drug with the INN levodopa; trade names include Sinemet, Pharmacopa, Atamet, and Stalevo. As a drug, it is used in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease and dopamine-responsive dystonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amantadine</span> Medication used to treat dyskinesia

Amantadine, sold under the brand name Gocovri among others, is a medication used to treat dyskinesia associated with parkinsonism and influenza caused by type A influenzavirus, though its use for the latter is no longer recommended because of widespread drug resistance. It acts as a nicotinic antagonist, dopamine agonist, and noncompetitive NMDA antagonist. The antiviral mechanism of action is antagonism of the influenzavirus A M2 proton channel, which prevents endosomal escape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasagiline</span> Chemical compound

Rasagiline is an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B used as a monotherapy to treat symptoms in early Parkinson's disease or as an adjunct therapy in more advanced cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nalmefene</span> Opioid antagonist

Nalmefene is a medication that is used in the treatment of opioid overdose and alcohol dependence. Nalmefene belongs to the class of opioid antagonists and can be taken by mouth, administered by injection, or delivered through nasal administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tesofensine</span> Chemical compound

Tesofensine (NS2330) is a serotonin–noradrenaline–dopamine reuptake inhibitor from the phenyltropane family of drugs, which is being developed for the treatment of obesity. Tesofensine was originally developed by a Danish biotechnology company, NeuroSearch, who transferred the rights to Saniona in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cilomilast</span> Chemical compound

Cilomilast is a drug which was developed for the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is orally active and acts as a selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Droxidopa</span> Synthetic amino acid/norepinephrine prodrug

Droxidopa is a synthetic amino acid precursor which acts as a prodrug to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Unlike norepinephrine, droxidopa is capable of crossing the protective blood–brain barrier (BBB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nepicastat</span> Chemical compound

Nepicastat is an inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine.

Vedolizumab, sold under the brand name Entyvio, is a monoclonal antibody medication developed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It binds to integrin α4β7, blocking the α4β7 integrin results in gut-selective anti-inflammatory activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TopoTarget</span>

TopoTarget was a Copenhagen-based biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs and therapies to treat cancer. In 2014, it merged with BioAlliance Pharma and is now part of Onxeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimavanserin</span> Atypical antipsychotic medication

Pimavanserin, sold under the brand name Nuplazid, is an atypical antipsychotic which is approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis and is also being studied for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease psychosis, schizophrenia, agitation, and major depressive disorder. Unlike other antipsychotics, pimavanserin is not a dopamine receptor antagonist.

Bagadilico, Basal Ganglia Disorders Linnaeus Consortium, is a research group in Lund, Sweden, and a Linnaeus environment, supported by the Swedish Research Council. The group comprises about 120 researchers at either Lund University or Lund University Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Losmapimod</span> Chemical compound

Losmapimod (GW856553X) is an investigational drug being developed by Fulcrum Therapeutics for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD); a phase III clinical trial is pending approval. Losmapimod selectively inhibits enzymes p38α/β mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are modulators of DUX4 expression and mediators of inflammation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acorda Therapeutics</span> American biotechnology company

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. is an American biotechnology company based in Pearl River, New York. The company develops therapies that improve neurological function in people with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Acorda Therapeutics manufactures and markets the drugs Inbrija and Ampyra (dalfampridine) in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor</span> Class of chemical compounds

A phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, commonly referred to as a PDE4 inhibitor, is a drug used to block the degradative action of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It is a member of the larger family of PDE inhibitors. The PDE4 family of enzymes are the most prevalent PDE in immune cells. They are predominantly responsible for hydrolyzing cAMP within both immune cells and cells in the central nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brexpiprazole</span> Atypical antipsychotic

Brexpiprazole, sold under the brand name Rexulti among others, is a medication used for the treatment of major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. It is an atypical antipsychotic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apremilast</span> Medication for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Apremilast, sold under the brand name Otezla among others, is a medication for the treatment of certain types of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The drug acts as a selective inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) and inhibits spontaneous production of TNF-alpha from human rheumatoid synovial cells. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spark Therapeutics</span> American pharmaceutical company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phenserine</span> Chemical compound

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Financial statements 2012" (PDF). Biotie Therapies. Retrieved 9 March 2013.[ self-published source ]
  2. ↑ House, Douglas W. (5 June 2015). "Biotie Therapies on deck for U.S. debut". Seeking Alpha.
  3. ↑ "The acquisition of Synosia Therapeutics Holding AG completed" (Press release). Biotie Therapies. February 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011.[ self-published source ]
  4. 1 2 Biotie Therapies Oyj Company Description Business Week[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Biotie.com, Collaborations". February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012.[ self-published source ]
  6. ↑ "Accorda Acquires Biotie Therapies for $363 Million - GEN News Highlights - GEN". 19 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Biotie: Selincro (nalmefene) receives European marketing authorization" (Press release). Biotie Therapies. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013.[ self-published source ]
  8. ↑ "Stock Exchange Release 27 February 2013" (Press release). Biotie Therapies. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013.[ self-published source ]
  9. ↑ "Biotie reports top-line data from clinical study with nepicastat (SYN117) in post-traumatic stress disorder" (Press release). Biotie Therapies. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013.[ self-published source ]
  10. ↑ Stock Exchange release 23 November 2011
  11. ↑ "Biotie.com, Pipeline". February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15.
  12. ↑ Lundbeck announces start of new phase III clinical trials with nalmefene Archived December 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 15 December 2008 at 9.30 a.m
  13. ↑ Balanced CNS and inflammation product pipeline Archived April 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Company website 2008-03-15
  14. ↑ "Biotie.com, SYN115 (tozadenant): A highly differentiated product for Parkinson's disease". March 26, 2012. Archived from the original on 2011-12-28.
  15. ↑ Staff (January 19, 2016). "Acorda Acquires Biotie Therapies for $363 Million". Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. New Rochelle, New York: Mary Ann Liebert.
  16. ↑ "Acorda Discontinues Tozadenant Development Program". Investor News (Press release). Acorda. November 20, 2017. Retrieved 2019-09-24.[ self-published source ]
  17. ↑ Dolhun, Rachel (November 15, 2017). "Parkinson's Tozadenant Trial Discontinued". New York, New York: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  18. ↑ "Biotie.com, SYN117 (nepicastat) for the treatment of cocaine dependency and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)". March 26, 2012. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13.
  19. ↑ "Biotie.com, Ronomilast: PDE4 inhibitor for chronic inflammatory disorders". March 26, 2012. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13.
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