Manatee County drug firm launches European test run

MANATEE COUNTY — Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded firm that develops drugs and medications for inflammatory conditions, neurological diseases and behavioral health, launched a testing program in Europe for a new product.

The medicine is called Anatabine Citrate, according to a release. The Manatee County-based firm expects to file a Clinical Trial Application with European regulators by the end of the third quarter. The firm, pending approval, also hired United Kingdom-based Quotient Clinical to run safety and tolerability studies on escalating doses of Anatabine Citrate, the release states.

“We are excited to be working with the Quotient Clinical team who (will) provide a unique blend of services that integrate formulation development, real time manufacturing and rapid clinical testing,” says Rock Creek Pharmaceutical Chairman and CEO Dr. Michael Mullan. “These are exactly the resources and expertise our lead compound needs to expedite the drug development process to prepare us for phase II clinical trials expected to begin in 2015.”

Rock Creek, formerly named Star Scientific Inc. and based in Virginia, signed an agreement earlier this year to lease space from the Roskamp Institute, a nationally recognized organization that studies diseases of the mind. Rock Creek and the Roskamp Institute have partnered on several previous projects. Mullan is CEO of the institute.