Pipeline

AST-915

AST-915 for the treatment of Essential Tremor

AST-915 is an orally delivered treatment for essential tremor. Manhattan Pharmaceuticals acquired global rights to AST-915 as part of the recent Ariston acquisition. This product candidate is being studied under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Phase 1 clinical study is currently underway in essential tremor patients. AST-915 was formerly referred to as “AST-914 metabolite”.

Essential tremor is a neurological disorder that is characterized by involuntary shaking of the hands, arms, head, voice, and upper body. The most disabling tremors occur during voluntary movement, affecting common skills such as writing, eating and drinking. Essential tremor is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, yet according to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, approximately 8 times as many people have essential tremor as have Parkinson’s. Essential tremor is not confined to the elderly. Children, newborns, and middle-aged people can also have the condition.

Essential tremor is the most common involuntary movement disorder, with increasing incidence as people age. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), essential tremor affects 14% of people 65 years and older, which equates to approximately 5.4 million Americans. There is no cure for essential tremor and the currently available drug therapies do not work in certain patients, produce at best a 50% response in others and have significant side effects. AST-915 may provide a new treatment option for this serious and prevalent disorder. A substantial market opportunity also exists internationally.