AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, recently announced that the company has received a “Notice of Allowance” from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its lead drug candidate Zenvia™, a treatment pseudobulbar affect (PBA).

This patent will provide AVANIR Pharmaceuticals commercial exclusivity for PBA indication well into 2025. AVANIR Pharmaceuticals also has exclusive rights to other patents and patent applications for treating PBA, chronic pain and other neurologic conditions using combinations of dextromethorphan and quinidine.

Greg Flesher, vice president of business development at AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, stated, “We are very pleased with the decision by the USPTO to grant this patent for our low-dose quinidine formulations of Zenvia for treating pseudobulbar affect. The new Zenvia patent will strengthen our worldwide intellectual property portfolio and is expected to provide fifteen years of commercial exclusivity in the U.S. from the time of anticipated FDA approval.” He concluded, “With this additional exclusivity, we have substantially enhanced the long-term value of this innovative therapy.”

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