Profile

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company based in Coral Gables, Florida. The company is developing therapeutics for rare neurological diseases, including the phosphate salt of amifampridine for the treatment of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome under the trade name "Firdapse" which was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in Adult LEMS patients on November 28, 2018 and commercially launched in January of 2019. On February 4, 2019, Bernie Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont, requested an explanation—including financial and non-financial information—from Catalyst that would justify Catalyst resetting Firdapse's list price at $375,000 a year. Prior to the FDA approval, patients were able to get an experimental version of the drug for free through compassionate use programs in accordance with FDA Rules and Guidelines. Catalyst was founded in 2002, and completed an IPO in 2006. It focused primarily on developing therapies to prevent addiction until 2012.