H D I N S I G H T S
HD Insights, Vol. 11 2
VITAL SIGNS
NAME: Frank J. Sasinowski, MS, MPH, JD
POSITION: Director, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, PC; Member, Board of
Directors, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
EDUCATION: JD, Georgetown University Law Center; MS, Nutritional Sciences,
University of California at Berkeley; MPH, University of California at Berkeley; BS,
Biological Sciences and Genetics, Cornell University
HOBBIES: Contemplation and meditation (see www.onewednesday.org)
Teva/Auspex merger, cont…
Copyright © Huntington Study Group 2015. All rights reserved.
1
Teva Reinforces Leadership Position in CNS with Acquisition
of Auspex [Internet]. March 30, 2015. Available from:
tevapharm.com/news/?itemid=%7BF45C98FD-CEA7-48C4-
B9CB-A6BD00D0BEDB%7D.
2
Auspex Pharmaceuticals. Pipeline - Auspex Pharmaceuticals
2015 [May 8, 2015]. Available from: auspexpharma.com/
pipeline/.
3
The Economist. Invent it, swap it or buy it. The Economist.
November 15, 2014. Available from: economist.com/news/
business/21632676-why-constant-dealmaking-among-
drugmakers-inevitable-invent-it-swap-it-or-buy-it?fsrc=rss
4
Actavis Completes Allergan Acquisition [Internet]. Online;
2015; March 17, 2015. Available from: prnewswire.com/news-
releases/actavis-completes-allergan-acquisition-300051633.html
5
Actavis Completes Forest Laboratories Acquisition [Internet].
July 1, 2014. Available from: actavis.com/news/news/
thomson-reuters/actavis-completes-forest-laboratories-
acquisition
6
Avanir Pharmaceuticals To Be Acquired By Otsuka
Pharmaceutical For $3.5 Billion [Internet]. Online; December 2,
2014. Available from: prnewswire.com/news-releases/avanir-
pharmaceuticals-to-be-acquired-by-otsuka-pharmaceutical-
for-35-billion-300003185.html
7
Acorda Therapeutics Completes Acquisition of Civitas
Therapeutics [Internet]. Online; 2014; October 22, 2014.
Available from: ir.acorda.com/investors/investor-news/
investor-news-details/2014/Acorda-Therapeutics-Completes-
Acquisition-of-Civitas-Therapeutics/default.aspx
8
Allergan, Inc. to Acquire MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [Internet].
Online; January 22, 2013. Available from: reuters.com/article/
2013/01/23/ca-allergan-inc-idUSnBw4rFlD9a
+114+BSW20130123
9
Mallinckrodt Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire CNS
Therapeutics, Inc. [Internet]. Online; September 24, 2012.
Available from: newsroom.medtronic.com/phoenix.zhtml?
c=251324&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2004166
10
Teva to buy Cephalon for $6.8 billion, tops Valeant [Internet].
Online; May 2, 2011. Available from: reuters.com/article/
2011/05/02/us-teva-cephalon-idUSTRE74133720110502
11
Biotie to Acquire CNS Therapeutics Firm Synosia in €93.6M
All-Shares Deal [Internet]. Online; January 11, 2011. Available
from: genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/biotie-to-acquire-
cns-therapeutics-firm-synosia-in-93-6m-all-b-b/81244507/
Table. Selected acquisitions of pharmaceutical firms developing novel central nervous system therapies, 2011-2015
Year Acquirer Target Amount Lead Compound Indication
Phase of
Development
2015
Actavis[4]
Allergan $66 billion OnabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®)
Variety of neurological
and cosmetic indications
FDA-approved
2015 Teva[1] Auspex $3.5 billion Dutetrabenazine (SD-809) Huntington disease Pre-NDA
2014 Actavis[5]
Forest
Laboratories
$28 billion Memantine HCl (Namenda™)
Moderate to severe
dementia from Alzheimer
disease
FDA-approved
2014 Otsuka[6] Avanir $3.5 billion
Dextromethorphan hydrobromide
and quinidine sulfate (NUEDEXTA ®)
Pseudobulbar affect FDA-approved
2014 Acorda[7] Civitas $525 million Inhaled L-dopa (CVT-301) Parkinson disease Pre-NDA
2013 Allergan[8] MAP $958 million
Inhaled dihydroergotamine
(Levadex®)
Migraines
Rejected by FDA
in 2014
2012
Mallinckrodt
(Covidien)[9]
CNS
Therapeutics
$100 million Baclofen (Gablofen®)
Muscle spasms caused by
damage to the brain or
spinal cord
FDA-approved
2011 Teva[10] Cephalon $6.8 billion Modafinil (Provigil ®) Narcolepsy FDA-approved
2011 Biotie[11] Synosia $126 million SYN-115 (Tozadenant) Parkinson disease Pre-NDA
Meet the Attorney
Mr. Frank Sasinowski has dedicated his career to helping patients and companies bring new therapies for rare
diseases to market. He recently shared his work, his hopes for orphan drug development, and his advice for
researchers and companies with HD Insights. The following is an edited transcript of the conversation.
H D I N S I G H T S