UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 16, 2014

 

 

CATALYST PHARMACEUTICAL PARTNERS, INC.

(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		001-33057		76-0837053
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
355 Alhambra Circle Suite 1500 Coral Gables, Florida				33134
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (305) 529-2522

Not Applicable

Former Name or Former address, if changed since last report

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 8.01

Other Events

On December 16, 2014, the Company announced the death of Hubert E. Huckel, M.D., a founding shareholder and director of the Company since January 2002. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Board member Charles B. O’Keeffe has been named to replace Dr. Huckel on the Company’s Audit Committee. All three members of the Audit Committee, which now consists of Philip Coelho (Chairman), David Tierney and Mr. O’Keeffe, are independent directors under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

99.1		Press release issued by the Company on December 16, 2014.

 

2

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: December 17, 2014

 

3

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces the Passing of Hubert E. Huckel, Co-Founder and Director

CORAL GABLES, FL, December 16, 2014 — Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Catalyst Pharmaceuticals) (Nasdaq: CPRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating diseases, today announced with great sadness the loss of Co-Founder and director, Hubert E. Huckel, M.D. Dr. Huckel, a founding shareholder and director of Catalyst since its formation in January 2002, passed away on December 13, 2014.

“We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Hubert,” said Patrick J. McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. “Dr. Huckel was a valued friend and a member of our Board, providing great support and guidance over the years. His contributions to Catalyst were invaluable. He will be greatly missed. We mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”

During a long and distinguished career, Dr. Huckel spent 29 years with The Hoechst Group (now Sanofi Aventis), and was at the time of his retirement Executive Chairman of the Board of Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Huckel received his MD degree from the University of Vienna, Austria, and was a member of the Rockefeller University Council.

About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating diseases, including Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), infantile spasms, and Tourette Syndrome. Catalyst’s lead candidate, Firdapse™ for the treatment of LEMS, recently completed testing in a global, multi-center, pivotal Phase 3 trial resulting in positive top-line data. Firdapse™ for the treatment of LEMS has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Firdapse™ is the first and only European approved drug for symptomatic treatment in adults with LEMS.

Catalyst is also developing a potentially safer and more potent vigabatrin analog (designated CPP-115) to treat infantile spasms, and epilepsy, as well as other neurological conditions associated with reduced GABAergic signaling, like post-traumatic stress disorder and Tourette Syndrome. CPP-115 has been granted U.S. orphan drug designation for the treatment of infantile spasms by the FDA and has been granted E.U. orphan medicinal product designation for the treatment of West Syndrome by the European Commission.

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Investor Contact Brian Korb The Trout Group LLC (646) 378-2923 bkorb@troutgroup.com		Company Contact Patrick J. McEnany Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer (305) 529-2522 pmcenany@catalystpharma.com
Media Contacts David Schull Matt Middleman, M.D. Russo Partners (212) 845-4271 (212) 845-4272 david.schull@russopartnersllc.com matt.middleman@russopartnersllc.com

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