Zogenix Acquires Brabant Pharma, Drug Lead For Dravet Syndrome

Pharmaceutical company Zogenix announced that it has acquired U.K.-based Brabant Pharma along with global rights to Brabafen (low-dose fenfluramine) for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.

Under the terms of the transaction, Zogenix will pay $20 million in cash and $15 million in stock, with potential additional milestone payments of up to $50 million. Brabant will also be eligible to receive up to $45 million in royalties in the future. The transaction covers the global development and marketing rights to Brabafen.

Brabafen has received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and EU as an investigational drug for Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of intractable epilepsy with onset in infancy. Results from an ongoing, long term clinical study show that 93 percent of patients treated with Brabafen experienced reductions in seizure frequency. The drug was also well tolerated and had a favorable safety profile.

Dr. Stephen Farr, President of Zogenix, said, “With the addition of this potential breakthrough product candidate, Brabafen, to our development programs for two abuse deterrent formulations of extended-release hydrocodone and Relday, we believe Zogenix is poised to reach key clinical studies results and regulatory submissions every year from 2015 through 2018.”

The company said that it plans to launch Phase 3 studies of Brabafen in the second quarter of 2015. The first milestone payment will not be released until late 2016 upon regulatory filing of Brabafen’s New Drug Application (NDA).

Zogenix is better known for its drug Zohydro ER, an opioid painkiller that became the center of legal battles and debates involving the FDA and state officials. Earlier this month, the company submitted a modified formulation for Zohydro with additional potential abuse deterrent properties for the FDA’s review.

Commenting on the Brabant acquisition, Zogenix CEO Roger Hawley said, “This is a transformational acquisition for Zogenix. While we remain engaged in strategic opportunities for Zohydro ER, including pursuit of a co-promotion partner and development of abuse deterrent formulations, the addition of Brabant's Dravet syndrome program significantly enhances our CNS development pipeline.”