CNS Pharmaceuticals Secures Global Rights to Berubicin from HPI to Advance Glioblastoma Therapy Development

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that on November 19, 2019, biotechnology company CNS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CNSP) entered into an intellectual property agreement with Houston Pharmaceuticals (HPI) to secure exclusive worldwide licensing rights to the patent for the anticancer drug Berubicin.

CNS Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel therapies for primary and metastatic brain and central nervous system tumors. The company’s lead candidate, berubicin, is being developed for the treatment of glioblastoma (a currently incurable form of brain cancer), pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma.

Berubicin is used to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and potentially other malignant central nervous system tumors. Berubicin was first discovered at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the largest cancer research institutes in the world.

Berubicin is an anthracycline drug and one of the most potent chemotherapeutic agents. Compared with any other class of chemotherapy drugs, Berubicin can more effectively combat a wider range of cancer types. By interfering with the action of topoisomerase II (a key enzyme that promotes cell proliferation), anthracyclines can damage the DNA of targeted cancer cells. In Phase I human clinical trials conducted by previous developers, berubicin demonstrated a durable complete response.

CNS has obtained an exclusive global license for the Berubicin patent from HPI, the original commercial holder of Berubicin’s intellectual property. Additionally, CNS has acquired all data and proprietary technology related to the Phase 1 trial of Berubicin from Reata Pharmaceuticals, a Nasdaq-listed company. In 2017, CNS entered into a collaboration agreement with Reata to further advance the development of Berubicin.

CNS stated that, leveraging the funds raised from its initial public offering on NASDAQ, it would initiate Phase II(a) clinical trials of Berubicin by 2020 to advance the treatment of GBM. CNS also anticipates utilizing Berubicin to treat other conditions, including pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma, and may develop combination therapies based on Berubicin.

Currently, CNS Pharmaceuticals intends to apply to the FDA for orphan drug designation for Berubicin in the treatment of malignant glioma.

John M. Climaco, Esq., CEO of CNS Pharmaceuticals, stated, “We believe that securing the patent rights to Berubicin represents a significant milestone in our pursuit of developing a therapy for GBM, a disease currently considered an incurable form of brain cancer. Our agreement with HPI expands the scope of our intellectual property protection and provides us with global development exclusivity as we seek orphan drug designation. We are pleased to continue the clinical development of Berubicin, whose favorable tolerability and efficacy demonstrate its potential as a therapeutic agent.”

(Compiled by Jiang Ying)