Upsher-Smith inks deal with Proximagen for tonabersat

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. Upsher-Smith Labs has acquired exclusive North American rights for an investigational drug designed to treat such conditions as migraine and epilepsy, the drug maker announced Monday.

Under the deal, with Proximagen Neuroscience, Upsher-Smith will be responsible for development, regulatory filing and commercialization activities for the drug tonabersat in the North American market.

“This agreement supports our strategic vision of building a leadership position in the central nervous system field,” Upsher-Smith president Mark Evenstad said. “We are excited about our growing [central nervous system] development portfolio that we hope will provide benefit to patients suffering from neurologic conditions.”

The company is also developing USL255, a once-daily formulation of the generic drug topiramate. The drug is in phase 3 trials as a treatment for epilepsy. Johnson & Johnson originally marketed topiramate under the brand name Topamax.