Generic Pharma Company Currax Acquires Nalpropion, Gaining Control of Leading Weight-Loss Drug CONTRAVE

On September 27, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that U.S. generic drug manufacturer Currax announced the acquisition of biopharmaceutical company Nalpropion, with the specific transaction amount undisclosed. Following the completion of this acquisition, Currax holds global rights to CONTRAVE (extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride), a weight-loss medication under Nalpropion. It is reported that CONTRAVE is the top-ranked weight-loss drug in the United States.

Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity-related diseases. Its blockbuster weight-loss drug, CONTRAVE, was approved by the U.S. FDA on September 10, 2014. Since June 2015, CONTRAVE has become the most widely prescribed obesity medication. In Europe, the drug has been approved under the brand name Mysimba™ (naltrexone HCl/bupropion HCl extended-release).

Contrave is a patented prescription weight-loss medication with patent protection valid until 2034. Contrave is indicated for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher (overweight), patients with a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity), and patients with weight-related comorbidities, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type 2 diabetes. This medication can help patients lose weight.

Currax Pharmaceuticals is a generic pharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring and commercializing prescription drugs in the U.S. market. Currax markets a portfolio of branded and generic products, including Silenor®, Treximet®, Zohydro® ER, BeadTek® (an authorized generic of Treximet), and ONZETRA® Xsail®.

George Hampton, CEO of Currax Pharmaceuticals, stated, “This is the second acquisition we have announced within just a few days. Contrave is a clinically differentiated drug with high growth potential and an extended intellectual property lifespan.”

As stated by George Hampton, on September 25, Currax obtained the patent rights for ONZETRA® Xsail® (sumatriptan nasal powder) in the North American market from OptiNose AS, a subsidiary of OptiNose (Nasdaq: OPTN).

ONZETRA® Xsail® provides a dry powder formulation of sumatriptan at a 22 mg dose, administered via a breath-powered inhalation delivery system, and was approved by the U.S. FDA on January 28, 2016, for the acute treatment of migraine in adults.

Stewart Tepper, MD, Professor of Neurology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, stated, “Despite recent advances in migraine treatment, many patients continue to suffer from debilitating migraines and remain dissatisfied with current therapies. The Xsail® device delivers medication deep into the nasal cavity, which is richly vascularized. By administering the drug intranasally, ONZETRA® Xsail® offers targeted and efficient delivery, with the potential for rapid symptom relief.”

George Hampton, CEO of Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC, stated, “We are pleased to have launched our first acquisition during the company’s early startup phase. This acquisition aligns with both our commitment to providing patients with more medications and treatment options, and our business growth strategy of acquiring underappreciated and clinically differentiated drugs.”

(Compiled by Cheng Xiaoqin)