Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing a drug to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Formerly named Cannasat Therapeutics they changed their name to Cynapsus Therapeutics in 2010.[1]
In September 2016, Sunovion (a subsidiary of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma) announced it would acquire Cynapsus Therapeutics for approximately $624 million.[2]
Company overview
Cynapsus is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing the only oral (sublingual) delivery of the only approved drug (apomorphine) to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Over one million people in the United States and an estimated 5 million people globally suffer from Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts motor activity, and its prevalence is increasing with the aging of the population. Based on the IMPACT Registry Study and the results of Cynapsus' Global 500 Neurologists Survey, it is estimated that between 25 percent and 50 percent of patients experience "off" episodes in which they have impaired movement or speaking capabilities. Current medications only control the disease's symptoms, and most drugs become less effective over time as the disease progresses.