Allergan Buys Chase Pharma

Allergan has completed the acquisition of Chase Pharmaceuticals Corp., a clinical-stage biopharma company developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Allergan paid $125 million upfront and additional potential regulatory and sales milestone payments related to Chase’s lead compound, CPC-201, and certain backup compounds.

CPC-­201 is a combination of the most commonly prescribed acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), donepezil, and the peripherally acting cholinergic blocker, solifenacin. AChEIs have been shown to improve cognition in AD patients, however those currently approved are modestly effective due to dose-limiting side effects, including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

In Phase II trials, 29 out of 33 patients (88%) reached 40 mg/day of donepezil (maximum dose allowed), without experiencing dose-limiting adverse events. This median donepezil dose did not change significantly during three months of maintenance treatment. Chase’s next-gen formulations offer the possibility of greater and more tolerable dosing, and may provide the potential for significantly improved cognition and function in AD patients.  

Chase Pharmaceuticals recently completed an End of Phase II meeting with the FDA and based on feedback, Allergan plans to advance CPC-201 into a Phase III registration study in 2017.
“We at Chase Pharmaceuticals are passionate about developing and bringing to physicians and their patients profoundly improved Alzheimer’s disease treatments.  I am very excited that Allergan has recognized the strong clinical value of our development programs and look forward to seeing Allergan apply its leading clinical development and regulatory expertise to bring these potential treatments forward for patients,” said Douglas Ingram, chief executive officer and president, Chase Pharmaceuticals Corp.