PharmaTher Announces Assigned FDA Approval Goal Date of its Priority Original Abbreviated New Drug Application for Ketamine

TORONTO, May 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the “Company” or “PharmaTher”) (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced receipt of an Amendment Acknowledgment Letter (“AAL”) for its Priority Original Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) for Ketamine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and assigned a Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2022 (“GDUFA”) goal date of October 29, 2024. As announced by the Company on April 18, 2024, the receipt of a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”), similar to the review letter FDA provided on possible deficiencies identified by Quality, as announced on February 12, 2024. There were no additional deficiencies mentioned in the CRL and AAL. The Company, demonstrating its commitment to quality and compliance, promptly completed the necessary tests and responses to address the FDA’s comments and submitted them to the FDA for their review, which resulted in the GDUFA goal date of October 29, 2024. The Company will provide updates as they occur.

The Company’s overall goal is to solve the ketamine shortage problem in the U.S. and its ketamine to adhere to the FDA’s strict manufacturing guidelines and FDA-approved prescribing label. Following the anticipated FDA approval and launch in the U.S., the Company aims to pursue international approvals to support the global demand for ketamine. The Company’s long-term strategy is pursuing novel uses and delivery methods of ketamine as a potential treatment for pain, mental health, and neurological disorders.

Ketamine has been on the FDA’s drug shortage list since February 2018, which is believed to have encouraged the widespread availability of compounded ketamine products not FDA approved for psychiatric disorders. On October 10, 2023, the FDA published a compounding risk alert describing the potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products for psychiatric disorders, specifically from telehealth providers that provide in-home ketamine services. These compounded ketamine products are not FDA approved. 

Ketamine is an essential medicine used for anesthesia and analgesia (pain relief) listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List. In Canada, ketamine has been classified as a Tier 3 drug shortage since February 2023, and Health Canada has approved ketamine for use as a sedative and painkiller in hospital settings. Outside of the FDA and Health Canada approved indications, ketamine is also being administered in hospitals and clinics to treat various mental health, neurological and pain disorders. A recently published new peer-reviewed study on the real-world effectiveness of ketamine intravenous therapy demonstrated significant patient improvement for depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.

About PharmaTher Holdings Ltd.

PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM) is focused on the development and commercialization of KETARX™ (Ketamine) to fill the global unmet medical needs for anesthesia, sedation, pain, mental health, and neurological indications. PharmaTher owns 49% of Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc., which focuses on advancing the clinical development of an improved and patented enteric-coated orally bioavailable formulation of cepharanthine (PD-001) to treat responsive cancers and infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Learn more at PharmaTher.com.

For more information about PharmaTher, please contact:

Fabio Chianelli
Chief Executive Officer
PharmaTher Holdings Ltd.
Tel: 1-888-846-3171
Email: info@pharmather.com
Website: www.pharmather.com

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