Singapore, May 5 -- Japan-based Shionogi & Co. has entered into an agreement with US-based Apnimed, Inc. for the introduction of sulthiame and a new drug development programme.

Sulthiame is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor approved as an antiepileptic drug in certain regions. Sulthiame has successfully completed two Phase 2 trials in over 300 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients studied for up to 3 months in Europe.

With the conclusion of this agreement, Shionogi acquired a joint ownership interest in the intellectual property rights related to the use of sulthiame in the field of sleep apnea and also in other intellectual property rights related to a different drug development programme of Apnimed by paying a one-time fee to Apnimed. ...