Ovation Pharmaceuticals has acquired from Prestwick Pharmaceuticals the exclusive license in the US to commercialize Xenazine, an orphan drug recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals has announced that the FDA has approved Xenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease. Xenazine is said to be the first and only FDA-approved treatment for any symptom of Huntington's disease (HD) and is expected to be available later 2008.

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals said it has received an approvable letter for Xenazine to treat chorea linked to Huntington's disease. Prestwick said the approvable letter from the Food and Drug Administration indicates the conditions the company must meet to secure marketing approval for the drug.

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals said Tuesday a new study shows its potential drug tetrabenazine works against Huntington's disease. The company said results of a phase 3 clinical trial -- appearing in the Feb.