DOV Pharmaceutical explained

DOV Pharmaceutical was a biotechnology company that focused on therapies primarily for central nervous system conditions. It was founded in 1995 by former employees of American Cyanamid (which was acquired by Wyeth in 1994), and in 1998 it in-licensed drugs discovered at American Cyanamid for further development.^[1] It held an IPO on NASDQ in 2002,^[2] and its shares plunged days later after negative details about a past relationship between Élan and DOV emerged.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Phil Skolnick served as CSO from 2001 to 2009.^{[7] [8]} Euthymics had been founded by Anthony McKinney and Frank Bymaster, a chemist who had worked at Eli Lilly on discovery and development of Prozac, Cymbalta, and Symbyax; the company was funded with $24 million from Novartis Venture Funds among others.^[9]

After several failed clinical trials, in 2010 Dov was acquired by Euthymics Bioscience which intended to continue development of Dov's antidepressant, amitifadine (DOV 21,947, renamed EB-1010).^{[10] [11]}

Its drug candidates included:

• Indiplon for insomnia, licensed from Wyeth in 1998, which it licensed to Neurocrine Biosciences in 1998.^[1]
• Bicifadine, a triple-uptake inhibitor for pain, licensed from Wyeth in 1998,^[12]
• Triple-uptake inhibitors for depression and related psychiatric disorders: (DOV 21,947 and DOV 216,303) licensed from Wyeth in 1998.^[13] Merck sublicensed the rights in 2004,^[14] and terminated them in 2006.^[15]
• Ocinaplon for anxiety disorders.^[16]
• A proprietary formulation of diltiazem^[16]
• DOV 102,677, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, attention deficit disorder^[16]
• DOV 51,892, for anxiety disorders^[16]
• DOV-216,303, the racemic mixture that included amitifadine, which was discontinued after the patent covering it expired.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Neubauer, DN. "Indiplon". pp 453-464 in GABA and Sleep: Molecular, Functional and Clinical Aspects. Eds Jaime M. Monti, Seithikurippu Ratnas Pandi-Perumal, Hanns Möhler. Springer Science & Business Media, 2010
2. Edgar Online. IPO Deal Data Page accessed 15 July 2015
3. Hess, Diane, Drugmaker's IPO Is a Big Headache, TheStreet.com, 1 May 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
   • Simpson, Stephen D. A Pain DOV Pharmaceutical Couldn't Cure, Motley Fool, 26 April 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
4. Krauskopf, Lewis, Investors Suing Hackensack, N.J.-Based DOV Pharmaceutical over Stock Losses, The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), 2 May 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2007
5. Maeillo, Michael, The Coldest IPO..., Forbes.com, 2 September 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2007
6. https://money.cnn.com/2002/04/25/markets/ipo/ipo/ DOV IPO sinks on first day
7. Web site: Press Release: Dr. Phil Skolnick Now Leads NIDA's Medications Development Efforts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. 1 April 2010.
8. Web site: Press Release: DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Announces Reorganization of Senior Management. DOV Pharmaceutical via PRNewswire. en. 5 July 2006.
9. McCoy. Michael. Happy Results for a Depression Drug. Chemical & Engineering News Archive. 12 March 2012. 90. 11. 20–22. 10.1021/cen-09011-cover3. 0009-2347.
10. Fierce Biotech 22 July 2010 Euthymics lands $24M to fund antidepressant work
11. News: Bunyan. Clytie. Oklahoma attorney helps with Mass. bioscience startup. NewsOK.com. 5 September 2010.
12. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1066833/000114420404018172/v08017_ex10-51.txt [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1066833/000114420404018172/v08017_ex10-51.txt SEC Filing: Wyeth-DOV Restated License Agreement] Page accessed July 15, 2015
13. Marks . DM . Pae . CU . Patkar . AA . Sep 2008 . Triple reuptake inhibitors: a premise and promise . Psychiatry Investig . 5 . 3. 142–7 . 20046357 . 10.4306/pi.2008.5.3.142 . 2796030 .
14. Chemical and Engineering News. 12 August 2004 Merck and DOV Pharmaceutical In Drug Pact
15. Dov 8 December 2006 DOV Pharmaceutical Announces Termination Of License Agreement With Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
16. Edgar Online. Data as of May 2004 IPO Deal Data: Business Description Page accessed 15 July 2015
17. Web site: 10-K For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Dov Pharmaceutical via SEC Edgar. 31 March 2008. DOV 216,303 was originally in development for depression; however as the patented composition of matter claim has expired, there are no ongoing clinical trials of DOV 216,303 and none are planned..