Pediatric OCD

NPL-2003: Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The condition

OCD is a neuropsychiatric anxiety disorder characterised by repeated intrusive thoughts and associated compulsive, ritualized behaviors (such as hand washing) intended to reverse that anxiety.

There are a number of different types of OCD, some of which occur for the first time in adults and others that are characterized as having an onset in childhood. Some studies have indicated the lifetime prevalence of pediatric OCD to be up to 4% in the US. Many cases of OCD begin before the age of 18 and are chronic in nature.

Current pharmacologic therapy for Pediatric OCD depends on the use of Selective Serotinin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Neuropharm is targeting to improve upon current therapy.

Find out more about OCD in our Patients and Carers section.

The program

NPL-2003 is an existing marketed product which Neuropharm believes could be of benefit to children and some adults with pediatric onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

NPL-2003 is available on prescription in several developed countries, and has been investigated in conditions ranging from neurological disorders to rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases the oral form is licensed for children aged 12 and up – this being the age range which Neuropharm is targeting.

The market

It is believed that two to three percent of the adult population suffers from varying degrees of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, with a population of more than 100,000 children in the US suffering from a form severe enough to require treatment.

Our progress

Two small open-label Phase II studies of NPL-2003 have been carried out in the US through collaboration with Columbia University in New York and University Hospitals Case Medical Centre at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio

The combined data from the two studies suggest that NPL-2003 demonstrates therapeutic benefit in patients whose OCD began in childhood, irrespective of their age during treatment.

The results of these two studies are intended to be published in the coming months.

Key points

• Neuropharm is working with an existing marketed product that we believe could be of benefit to pediatric OCD sufferers

Regulatory

• The Group has filed patent applications in the UK, followed by international patent applications to protect its rights to NPL-2003 in Pediatric OCD

Market opportunity

• Neuropharm is targeting to improve upon current pharmacological therapies
• Neuroprotective effects and tolerance of NPL-2003 has been demonstrated
• As NPL-2003 is already approved in other indications, route to market could be relatively straightforward