Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners’ first quarter loss deepened to $3 million from a $1.6 million loss in the same period a year ago.

The Coral Gables-based company (NASDAQ: CPRX) had no revenue, as its drug candidates are in development. However, Catalyst said its $8.9 million in cash and equivalents as of March 31 should carry it through clinical trials and support operations through the end of 2010.

Catalyst CEO Patrick J. McEnany said that he expects top-line results from its clinical trial for drug candidate CPP-109 to treat cocaine addition by the end of June. Should the results turn out positive, the company would meet with regulators and begin planning a final-stage Phase III clinical trial.

Meanwhile, Catalyst expects to learn the results of its clinical trial for CPP-109 to treat methamphetamine addiction during the third quarter, McEnany said.

“We are actively exploring opportunities to obtain government funding from agencies that operate under the National Institutes of Health umbrella to further our development plans, which include developing large-scale clinical trials using CPP-109 to treat cocaine and methamphetamine addiction, as well as pilot studies for other addictions including alcohol and nicotine dependence,” McEnany said in a news release.

Catalyst shares were down 7 cents to $2.10 in afternoon trading. The 52-week high was $4.52 on Aug. 26. The 52-week low was $1.06 on March 11.

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