- Plans to Initiate Phase 2 Study in Bulimia Nervosa -
- Company to Pursue Uplisting to a Major Stock Exchange -
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Opiant”) (OTCQB:OPNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders, today announced the company’s 2017 corporate and clinical goals. These corporate and clinical goals include Phase 2 clinical trial initiation, ongoing support for the company’s NARCAN® Nasal Spray commercialization partnership, pursuing an uplisting to a major stock exchange and senior leadership expansion.
“The recent transaction with SWK Holdings that enabled us to monetize a portion of our future NARCAN® Nasal Spray royalties significantly strengthened our balance sheet with up to $17.5 million, and allowed us to enter 2017 well-positioned to advance development of our novel addiction treatments,” said Roger Crystal, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Opiant. “Addiction disorders represent a significant burden to society and I believe our pipeline of promising therapies can make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families. I look forward to reporting on our progress throughout 2017.”
2017 Clinical Goals
During calendar year 2017, Opiant aims to achieve the following clinical development goals and milestones:
- Initiate a Phase 2 study in Bulimia Nervosa, a potentially life-threatening eating disorder with only one available FDA-approved therapy
- Initiate an additional clinical program leveraging the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway
- Advance the pre-clinical research of Opiant’s heroin vaccine, which was licensed in October from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Continue to support Opiant’s NARCAN® Nasal Spray commercialization partner, Adapt Pharma Limited, with ongoing development and intellectual property generation
2017 Corporate Goals
During 2017, Opiant plans to achieve the following corporate goals:
- Expand the management team with the addition of a Chief Scientific Officer to oversee the expansion and advancement of Opiant’s pipeline
- Pursue all necessary operating and governance requirements to complete an uplisting to a major stock exchange
- Seek shareholder approval to switch to a Delaware corporation from a Nevada corporation
“This year has the potential to be a transformational one for Opiant Pharmaceuticals,” continued Dr. Crystal. “In addition to our clinical development efforts, we are taking the steps necessary to apply for listing on a major stock exchange. This could elevate visibility of our company, provide increased trading liquidity and broaden our shareholder base as we advance our pipeline of novel addiction treatments, an area of medicine in urgent need of effective new options.”
Opiant will provide an update on its clinical and corporate progress for 2017 during its next conference call following the release of its fiscal second quarter financial results in March.
About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders. Over 45 million people in the U.S. have one of these disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets. Its first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is approved for marketing in the U.S. and Canada by the company’s partner, Adapt Pharma Limited. For more information please visit: www.opiant.com.
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