Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Announces Publication of Animal Data Demonstrating Vigabatrin Effective for Weight Loss

    CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug 21 /EMWNews/ -- Catalyst

Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX) today reported that animal

data from a new study sponsored by scientists at the U.S. Department of

Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory appears to demonstrate that taking

vigabatrin leads to rapid weight loss and reduced food intake. The data was

published online as of August 20, 2008 in the journal Synapse, a

prestigious peer-reviewed neuroscience publication.



    Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners is currently evaluating the use of

CPP-109, its version of vigabatrin, for the treatment of both cocaine and

methamphetamine addiction. Two FDA-approved U.S. Phase II clinical trials

are currently ongoing. CPP-109 is an orally administered, small molecule

drug which inhibits psychostimulant-induced dopamine release.



    According to the study published in Synapse, a total of 50 adolescent

and adult animals, all genetically bred to be obese, were assigned to

either a control group or groups that received vigabatrin at various dose

levels and were monitored for up to 40 days. The controls received daily

salt water (saline) injections, while those in the study groups received up

to 300 milligrams of vigabatrin per day. All animals received injections

for two, 7-13 day periods, with breaks in between.



    At the end of the 40 day period, all animals receiving vigabatrin

weighed significantly less than the control subjects. In fact, those

animals that were bred to be obese experienced a loss of up to 19 percent

of their total weight, while non-obese animals lost 12 to 20 percent of

their total weight following short-term treatment with vigabatrin. Amy

DeMarco of Brookhaven led the study working in the laboratory of Brookhaven

Lab senior scientist, Stephen Dewey, Ph.D. (Dr. Dewey is the Chairman of

Catalyst's Scientific Advisory Board). The Brookhaven National Laboratory

press release may be accessed at

http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=811.



    Commenting on today's news, Patrick J. McEnany, Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer of Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, noted, "We are very

encouraged by this new animal data, which shows the long-term prospects of

using vigabatrin for the treatment of obesity, which is currently at

epidemic proportions in the U.S. In addition to development of CPP-109 for

treatment of cocaine, methamphetamine and other substance addictions, the

compound appears to provide a platform for multiple indications, including

as a potential treatment for obsessive compulsive disorders. In fact, as

previously reported, we are currently seeking to conduct a Phase II

clinical trial later this year evaluating CPP-109 for the treatment of

binge eating disorder."

    About Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners



    Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company

focused on the development and commercialization of prescription drugs for

the treatment of addiction and obsessive compulsive disorders. The Company

has obtained from Brookhaven National Laboratory an exclusive worldwide

license for eleven patents and two patents pending in the United States

relating to the right to use vigabatrin to treat a wide variety of

substance addictions and obsessive compulsive disorders. Catalyst has also

been granted rights to Brookhaven's vigabatrin-related foreign patents or

patents pending in more than 30 countries. The Company's initial product

candidate is CPP-109, which is Catalyst's version of vigabatrin. CPP-109

has been granted "Fast Track" status by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

(FDA) for the treatment of cocaine addiction. This indicates that the FDA

has recognized that CPP-109 is intended for the treatment of a serious or

life-threatening condition for which there is no effective treatment and

which demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs. For more

information about the Company, please visit http://www.catalystpharma.com.



    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking

statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may

cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially

from forecasted results. A number of factors, including the Company's

ability to successfully complete those clinical trials required for it to

file a new drug application for CPP-109, the Company's ability to complete

such trials on a timely basis within the budgets established for such

trials, the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property and

those other factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K

for 2007 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter

ended June 30, 2008 that the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and

Exchange Commission ("SEC"), could adversely affect the Company. Copies of

the Company's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found

on the Company's website or may be obtained upon request from the Company.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information

contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.