Elbion acquires late-stage candidate for treatment of alcohol dependence

Elbion, a European drug discovery and development company, has acquired a number of product candidates from the French biotechnology company DrugAbuse Sciences.

The most advanced candidate, Naltrexone Depot, a sustained release formulation of naltrexone, will become Elbion's lead product and the company expects it to enter pivotal Phase III clinical trials in 2007. A second asset acquired is Buprenorphine Depot, a sustained release buprenorphine indicated for the treatment of opiate addiction.

The acquisition of the DrugAbuse Sciences candidates was made in return for a financial consideration comprising Elbion shares. Full financial terms were not disclosed.

Naltrexone Depot is a novel, sustained release formulation of naltrexone, an antagonist that blocks receptors in the brain and is used in the treatment of opiate and alcohol abuse. Unlike conventional naltrexone dosage forms Naltrexone Depot is designed as a once-a-month intramuscular injection which Elbion believes will offer significant advantages in the treatment of alcoholism where patient treatment compliance is a major limiting factor.

The company is collaborating on formulation development work with Brookwood Pharmaceuticals, a US drug delivery company and Brookwood will supply the product for trials.

Bernd Kastler, ceo of Elbion, said: 'We intend to initiate a well-designed Phase III programme with an improved formulation of the product, and then to commercialise Naltrexone Depot through our own sales and marketing operations in certain territories and through licensees in others.'

Buprenorphine depot is in pre-clinical development.