Merz Therapeutics today announced the acquisition of INBRIJA ® and AMPYRA ®, and related assets from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. AMPYRA ® is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and marketed as FAMPYRA in the European Union and other territories worldwide. The transaction was completed in a court-structured 363 sale under the US Bankruptcy Code. The closing of this deal, valued at $185 million in cash, strengthens Merz Therapeutics’ market position by enhancing its offering for people with Parkinson’s disease and expanding into multiple sclerosis.

“ The addition of INBRIJA and (F)AMPYRA to the pipeline underscores Merz Therapeutics’ global Pivot for Growth strategy, which aims to both evolve the current pipeline and achieve critical scale and global reach,” said Stefan König, CEO, Merz Therapeutics. “ Merz Therapeutics is well positioned to build on our achievements in specialty neurology, strengthening our position in the Parkinson’s disease market and expanding into the multiple sclerosis segment. This agreement demonstrates Merz Therapeutics’ interest and ability to acquire assets that will deliver greater and more sustainable outcomes for more people living with neurological disorders.”

INBRIJA and (F)AMPYRA are projected to generate immediate incremental revenues, which will enhance Merz Therapeutics’ ability to accelerate the clinical development of its existing and new assets. Its U.S. operations are expected to account for more than 75% of total global INBRIJA and (F)AMPYRA revenues over the next ten years. In addition, the company anticipates that U.S. headcount will increase by more than 50%.

INBRIJA is a significant advance for people with Parkinson’s disease as it provides an on-demand form of inhaled levodopa, offering an effective way to manage “off” episodes. This delivery method, enabled by the innovative and proprietary ARCUS® technology platform , is particularly valuable for people who need rapid relief of their symptoms, which cannot be reliably achieved by oral administration.

(F)AMPYRA is the first medicine approved to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis, demonstrated by an improvement in walking ability.

“ The expansion of the portfolio with INBRIJA, including plans to roll out products globally, and (F)AMPYRA enables Merz Therapeutics to leverage its expertise in specialty neurology to serve even more patients with neurological disorders and support the physicians who treat them,” said Stefan Albrecht, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer. “ Because these therapies complement the company’s product portfolio and distribution system, we are well positioned to help patients who rely on these products.”

About INBRIJA

INBRIJA ® is a prescription inhaled levodopa medicine used to treat the return of Parkinson's disease symptoms (known as "off" episodes) in people with Parkinson's disease who are being treated with carbidopa/levodopa medicines. It does not replace the usual carbidopa/levodopa medicines. INBRIJA should not be used by people with Parkinson's disease who are taking or have taken a non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine, in the last two weeks. The most common side effects with INBRIJA are cough, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea and change in colour of saliva or sputum.

About FAMPYRA

FAMPYRA ® is a prolonged-release tablet formulation of the medicinal product fampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP or dalfampridine). FAMPYRA is indicated in the European Union for the improvement of gait in adult patients with multiple sclerosis with walking disability (EDSS 4-7). In clinical trials, the highest incidence of adverse reactions identified with FAMPYRA at the recommended dose was urinary tract infection. Other adverse reactions identified were mainly distributed between neurological disorders such as insomnia, balance disorder, dizziness, paraesthesia and headache, and gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, dyspepsia and constipation. In post-marketing experience, seizures have been reported. Please refer to FAMPYRA EPAR for further information.

About AMPYRA

AMPYRA ® is an extended-release tablet formulation of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP or fampridine). AMPYRA is a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to help improve walking in adults with multiple sclerosis. This has been demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. The most common adverse reactions with AMPYRA in patients with multiple sclerosis were: urinary tract infection; sleep disturbances; dizziness; headache; nausea; weakness; back pain; balance problems; multiple sclerosis relapse; burning, stinging or itching of the skin; nose and throat irritation; constipation; indigestion; and throat pain. Please refer to the AMPYRA Patient Dosing Guide for more information.

About Merz Therapeutics

Merz Therapeutics is dedicated to improving the lives of patients worldwide. Through its research and development activities and culture of innovation, Merz Therapeutics strives to address unmet patient needs and achieve better outcomes. Merz Therapeutics seeks to address the unique needs of people with movement disorders, neurological diseases, liver diseases and other health conditions that seriously impact patients’ quality of life.

Merz Therapeutics is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and is represented in more than 90 countries, with a North American subsidiary based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Merz Therapeutics GmbH is part of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned company with a 115-year history of developing innovations that address unmet patient and customer needs.

Please visit www.merztherapeutics.com

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Contacts
Global Press Contact:
Merz Therapeutics GmbH
Agnes Tesch
Global Communications
+49 69 1503 2129
agnes.tesch@merz.de

North American Press Contact:
Merz Therapeutics
Nicole Lovern
Corporate Communications
6601 Six Forks Road, Suite 430, Raleigh, NC 27615
(571) 442-9665
Nicole.Lovern@merz.com

 

Source: businesswire.com

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