RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc (RSPI)

[neuroinv]

One of the issues in play here involves the question of just how tough is it to obtain partnerships these days? As context for what seems to be so drawn out a process for Cortex and CX717. So I looked back at 2008, extracting all small company CNS indication POC trials for unpartnered programs that were completed last year.(mostly during2Q/3Q, with a few in 1Q r or 4Q). I may have missed a couple, this was a quick look, but this should cover most of them.

There were thirteen (I am counting the two Cortex RD trials as one). Only 7 of the 13 POC trials were successful or even semi-successful ( a couple hit secondary or posthoc endpoints, enough to keep the program alive). Addex, Alexza, Acadia, Antipodean, Epix, Trophos all failed.

Of the seven which succeeded, four were from companies that would like to partner now (NeurAxon, Neurogen do not, EnVivo hasn't been sure, though I suspect they will). Those four are Allon, Cortex, Prana, Titan. Their current status:

Allon Therapeutics/AL:108/ Alzheimer’s: Not yet partnered
Cortex/CX717/respiratory depression: Not yet partnered
Prana/PBT-2/Alzheimer’s: Not yet partnered
Titan Pharma/probuphine/addiction: Not yet partnered (postscript on Titan—the USPTO turned down their US patent, so all they can try to partner is Europe.)

Bottom line: None of the small CNS companies who had positive POC data and wanted to get a partner have been able to do so. This says a lot about the partnering environment at present.

If anyone can think of other CNS programs that fit these criteria, please remind me what they are.

FWIW.

NeuroInvestment