DOV Pharmaceutical was a

biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...

company that focused on therapies primarily for central nervous system conditions. It was founded in 1995 by former employees of

American Cyanamid American Cyanamid Company was a leading American conglomerate which became one of the nation's top 100 manufacturing companies during the 1970s and 1980s, according to the Fortune 500 listings at the time. It started in fertilizer, but added ...

(which was acquired by

Wyeth Wyeth, LLC was an American pharmaceutical company. The company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1860 as ''John Wyeth and Brother''. It was later known, in the early 1930s, as American Home Products, before being renamed to Wyeth in ...

in 1994), and in 1998 it in-licensed drugs discovered at American Cyanamid for further development.Neubauer, DN. "Indiplon". pp 453-464 in GABA and Sleep: Molecular, Functional and Clinical Aspects. Eds Jaime M. Monti, Seithikurippu Ratnas Pandi-Perumal, Hanns Möhler. Springer Science & Business Media, 2010 It held an IPO on NASDQ in 2002, and its shares plunged days later after negative details about a past relationship between

Élan Elan Corporation plc was a major drugs firm based in Dublin, Ireland, which had major interests in the United States. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange as ELN, the Irish Stock Exchange as ELN.I, and the London Stock Exchange as ELN. ...

and DOV emerged.

Phil Skolnick Phil Skolnick (born 26 February 1947) is an American neuroscientist and pharmacologist most widely known for his work on the psychopharmacology of depression and anxiety, as well as on addiction medicine. Author of more than 500 published papers, ...

served as CSO from 2001 to 2009. Euthymics had been founded by Anthony McKinney and Frank Bymaster, a chemist who had worked at

Eli Lilly Eli Lilly (July 8, 1838 – June 6, 1898) was an American soldier, pharmacist, chemist, and businessman who founded the Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical corporation. Lilly enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War and r ...

on discovery and development of Prozac, Cymbalta, and Symbyax; the company was funded with $24 million from Novartis Venture Funds among others. After several failed clinical trials, in 2010 Dov was acquired by Euthymics Bioscience which intended to continue development of Dov's antidepressant,

amitifadine Amitifadine (developmental code names DOV-21,947, EB-1010) is a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) or so-called triple reuptake inhibitor (TRI) which is or was being developed by Euthymics Bioscience It was under de ...

(DOV 21,947, renamed EB-1010). Its drug candidates included: *

Indiplon Indiplon (INN and USAN) is a nonbenzodiazepine, hypnotic sedative that was developed in two formulations—an immediate-release formulation for sleep onset, and a modified-release (also called controlled-release or extended-release) version for s ...

for

insomnia Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which people have trouble sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, ...

, licensed from Wyeth in 1998, which it licensed to

Neurocrine Biosciences Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is an American biopharmaceutical company founded in 1992. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California, and led by CEO Kevin Gorman. Neurocrine develops treatments for neurological and endocrine-related diseas ...

in 1998. *

Bicifadine Bicifadine (DOV-220,075) is a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) discovered at American Cyanamid as an analgesic drug candidate, and licensed to DOV Pharmaceutical in 1998 after American Cyanamid was acquired by Wyeth. ...

, a triple-uptake inhibitor for pain, licensed from Wyeth in 1998, * Triple-uptake inhibitors for depression and related psychiatric disorders: (DOV 21,947 and DOV 216,303) licensed from Wyeth in 1998. Merck sublicensed the rights in 2004, and terminated them in 2006.Dov 8 December 2006
DOV Pharmaceutical Announces Termination Of License Agreement With Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
/ref> *

Ocinaplon Ocinaplon is an anxiolytic drug in the pyrazolopyrimidine family of drugs. Other pyrazolopyrimidine drugs include zaleplon and indiplon. Ocinaplon has a similar pharmacological profile to the benzodiazepine family of drugs, but with mainly anxiol ...

for anxiety disorders.Edgar Online. Data as of May 200
IPO Deal Data: Business Description
Page accessed 15 July 2015 * A proprietary formulation of

diltiazem Diltiazem, sold under the brand name Cardizem among others, is a calcium channel blocker medication used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and certain heart arrhythmias. It may also be used in hyperthyroidism if beta blockers cannot be used ...

* DOV 102,677, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, attention deficit disorder * DOV 51,892, for anxiety disorders *

DOV-216,303 DOV 216,303 is an experimental antidepressant drug originally developed by DOV Pharmaceutical and was licensed to Merck & Co. in 2004; Merck and DOV terminated their relationship in December 2006. It is a triple reuptake inhibitor (TRI), or ...

, the racemic mixture that included

, which was discontinued after the patent covering it expired.

References

External links

Company web site
{{Finance links , name = DOV Pharmaceutical Inc. , symbol = DOVP.OB , sec_cik = 0001066833 , hoovers = Dov_Pharmaceutical_Inc.44ff0d7f883c3791 Biotechnology companies of the United States Companies based in Bergen County, New Jersey Pharmaceutical companies based in New Jersey Biotechnology companies established in 1995 1995 establishments in New Jersey Biotechnology companies disestablished in 2010 2010 disestablishments in New Jersey American companies established in 1995