Athena Neurosciences
Executive Summary
Licensing agreement with Sandoz gives firm U.S. and Canadian rights to tizanidine, a treatment for spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury and acute muscle spasm. Athena expects to begin U.S. Phase III trials and submit NDAs by the end of 1991 and 1992, respectively. Sandoz, which introduced tizanidine (Sirdalud) in West Germany in 1985 and Japan in 1988, will supply the finished product. South San Francisco-based Athena is negotiating two similar agreements as part of its plan to build a sales force in anticipation of marketing CNS drugs now under development.