Achieve Announces Patent Granted in the U.S. for Novel Formulation of Cytisinicline

SEATTLE, Wash and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2019 — Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted Achieve a patent (No. 10,300,050) on succinate salt of cytisinicline and use thereof.

“It is particularly important as we advance the cytisinicline clinical development program that we continue to expand our intellectual property portfolio through patent extensions to protect the value associated with our smoking cessation franchise,” stated Rick Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Achieve.

The patent covers a novel salt form of cytisinicline, namely cytisinicline succinate, and pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms.  The U.S. Patent follows the grant of the same invention in the United Kingdom. Applications are pending in the European Patent Office, Japan, China, Australia, Canada, and South Korea.

Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Achieve has been pursuing cytisinicline succinate salt as a novel new drug product formulation that may further enhance cytisinicline product stability and long-term potency.

About Cytisinicline
Achieve’s focus is to address the global smoking health epidemic through the development and commercialization of cytisinicline.

Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is believed to aid in smoking cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain by reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and by reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with smoking. As an approved, branded product in Central and Eastern Europe for more than two decades, it is estimated that over 20 million people have used cytisinicline to help combat nicotine addiction.

Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death and is responsible for nearly seven million deaths annually worldwide[1]. It is estimated that 28.7% of cancer deaths in the U.S. are attributable to cigarette smoking[2].

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the planned cytisinicline clinical development activities, the timing of clinical development activities related to cytisinicline, the potential market size for cytisinicline and the potential benefits of cytisinicline. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Achieve may not actually achieve its plans or product development goals in a timely manner, if at all, or otherwise carry out its intentions or meet its expectations or projections disclosed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risk that cytisinicline may not demonstrate the hypothesized or expected benefits; the risk that Achieve may not be able to obtain additional financing to fund the development of cytisinicline; the risk that cytisinicline will not receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized; the risk that new developments in the smoking cessation landscape require changes in business strategy or clinical development plans; the risk that Achieve’s intellectual property may not be adequately protected; general business and economic conditions; and the other factors described in the risk factors set forth in Achieve’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Achieve’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Achieve undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.

Achieve Contact
Jason Wong
[email protected]
(415) 375-3340 ext. 4

[1]World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2017. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017
[2] Annals of Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , 179 – 182.e1