HD Blog

Christopher O'Brien, MD, Honored with Guthrie Family Humanitarian Award
HDSA Gala Recognizes Leadership in Research and Community Service

WASHINGTON - Oct. 21, 2004 - Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a CNS specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that Christopher O'Brien, MD, the company's Chief Medical Officer, has been selected by the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) to receive the Guthrie Family Humanitarian Award for compassion and dedication to the care and support of people with Huntington's Disease (HD) and their families. Being held this evening at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the Annual Guthrie Awards Dinner pays tribute to the memories of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie and his wife, Marjorie, principal founder of the national drive to cure HD.

A leader in neurological clinical research for the past 15 years, Dr. O'Brien joined Prestwick Pharmaceuticals in December 2003. He maintains his role as a neurologist in the HDSA Center of Excellence for Huntington's Disease clinic at the University of California San Diego where he is a member of the voluntary faculty.

"Dr. Chris O'Brien has played a pivotal role in the care and cure of Huntington's Disease. He was chosen to receive the Guthrie Family Humanitarian Award by both the Guthrie Family and HDSA because of his dedication and commitment to helping people with HD and their loved ones. He is an inspiration to all healthcare professionals and is deserving of this recognition," stated Barbara Boyle, HDSA National Executive Director/CEO.

"It's an honor to be selected for this prestigious award," said Christopher O'Brien, MD. "The HDSA has been leading the search for a cure for nearly four decades, and it is because of their work that HD has gone from being a virtually unknown disorder to one that is widely recognized as a priority for research and funding. I am proud to be part of their team."

Dr. O'Brien has served as investigator or director for more than 100 clinical trials and has authored more than 75 publications in the neuroscience literature. He is Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and has served on the boards of various national foundations supporting Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Dystonia and Tourette's Syndrome. Dr. O'Brien received his MD from the University of Minnesota, his neurology training at Minnesota and fellowship training in movement disorders and neuropharmacology at the University of Rochester.

HDSA

HDSA is a national, non-profit health organization dedicated to finding a cure for Huntington's Disease while providing support and services for those living with HD and their families. Founded in 1967 by Marjorie Guthrie, HDSA promotes and supports both basic and clinical HD research, aids families throughout the continuum of HD and educates families, the public and healthcare professionals about this devastating disease.

Huntington's Disease is an inherited, progressively degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of both mental faculties and physical control. Symptoms usually appear in an individual between 30-50 years of age and progress over a 10-25 year period. HD affects the individual's ability to think, speak and walk. Presently, there is no effective treatment or cure. For more information about HD and HDSA please visit the national web site at www.hdsa.org or call (800) 345-HDSA.

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on treatments for CNS disorders. The company has multiple product candidates in clinical development for Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and schizophrenia.

Prestwick recently announced positive Phase III results of the investigational drug tetrabenazine for chorea associated with Huntington's Disease. The company anticipates filing a New Drug Application (NDA) for tetrabenazine with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the near future. Prestwick was granted fast track and orphan drug status by the FDA. Tetrabenazine is available in some European markets and Australia as XENAZINE(TM) and in Canada as NITOMAN(R) for the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders. For more information, visit http://www.prestwickpharma.com.