NEW YORK and ROME, July 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OVID, hereinafter “Ovid”), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing medicines that transform the lives of people with rare neurological diseases, and Angelini Pharma S.p.A., an Italian family-owned pharmaceutical company committed to helping patients with a constant and prevalent focus on Mental Health, Rare Diseases and Consumer Health, announced an agreement in which Angelini Pharma will be responsible to develop, manufacture and commercialize OV101 (gaboxadol) for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area, and also Switzerland, Turkey the United Kingdom and Russia. Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG. OV101 is believed to be the only delta (?)-selective GABA_A receptor agonist in development and is currently being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 NEPTUNE trial in Angelman syndrome, with topline results expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ovid will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and is eligible to receive up to an additional $212.5 million in payments upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones for the initial indication (Angelman syndrome), as well as double-digit royalties on net sales if OV101 is successfully commercialized. Ovid will retain all U.S. and rest-of-world commercial rights to OV101.

“We are excited to enter into a strategic collaboration with Angelini Pharma with the goal of bringing OV101, if approved, to the Angelman community in Europe as quickly as possible. Angelini Pharma is an ideal partner for Europe as they have deep regional knowledge, an established infrastructure with a history of successful product launches, and a commitment to improving the quality of life of the patient communities they serve,” said Jeremy Levin, DPhil, MB, BChir, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ovid Therapeutics. “Finding the right partners to bring OV101 to the Angelman community as rapidly as possible is a core part of our global strategy. We believe this partnership with Angelini will help to maximize the potential commercial value of OV101 and achieve our strategic objectives in this important geography."

“Today is a day that we will remember. Through our collaboration with Ovid Therapeutics, we are laying the foundation to developing innovative health solutions for rare diseases, in line with Angelini Pharma’s new strategy,” said Pierluigi Antonelli, Angelini Pharma CEO. “The new business unit Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG will contribute to the development, registration, production and, if approved, commercialization in Europe of OV101, Ovid Therapeutics’ very promising drug being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. As of now, there is no effective treatment for this rare genetic disease, characterized by severe psychomotor disability, which manifests itself from childhood. Delivering on our commitment makes us proud both from a scientific and social impact perspectives.”

"As shareholders and executives of Angelini Holding we continue to invest in the pharma area, which today represents half of our Group's turnover,” commented the executive vice president Thea Paola Angelini and the CEO Sergio Marullo di Condojanni. “Our global development and internationalization strategy focuses on business areas with high growth potential. Particularly, we look closely at all the opportunities that can open up, not only in healthcare, but also in the consumer and machinery sector."

Rothschild & Co acted as an advisor to Ovid on the collaboration agreement.

About Angelman Syndrome
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that is characterized by a variety of signs and symptoms. Characteristic features of this condition include delayed development, intellectual disability, severe speech impairment, problems with movement and balance, seizures, sleep disorders and anxiety. The most common cause of Angelman syndrome is the loss of function of the gene that codes for ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), which plays a critical role in nerve cell communication, resulting in impaired tonic inhibition. Individuals with Angelman syndrome typically have normal lifespans but are unable to live independently. Therefore, they require constant support from a network of specialists and caregivers. Angelman syndrome affects approximately 1 in 12,000 to 1 in 20,000 people globally.

There are no approved therapies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency or rest–of-world for Angelman syndrome, and treatment primarily consists of behavioral interventions and pharmacologic management of symptoms.

Angelman syndrome is associated with a reduction in tonic inhibition, a function of the delta (?)-selective GABA_A receptor that allows a human brain to decipher excitatory and inhibitory neurological signals correctly without being overloaded. If tonic inhibition is reduced, the brain becomes inundated with signals and loses the ability to separate background noise from critical information.

About OV101 (gaboxadol)

OV101 is believed to be the only delta (?)-selective GABA_A receptor agonist in development and the first investigational drug to specifically target the disruption of tonic inhibition, a central physiological process of the brain that is thought to be the underlying cause of certain neurodevelopmental disorders. OV101 has demonstrated in laboratory studies and animal models to selectively activate the ?-subunit of GABA_A receptors, which are found in the extrasynaptic space (outside of the synapse), and thereby impact neuronal activity through modulation of tonic inhibition.