(a) reduction of 2-amino-3-nitro-6-[(4-flurobenzyl)amino] pyridine (5) using Raney Ni and hydrazine hydrate to give 2,3-diamino-6-[(4-flurobenzyl)amino] pyridine (6), (b) ethoxycarbonylation of compound (6) to obtain flupirtine base (1) or its acid addition salt, and (c) treatment of flupirtine base (1) or its acid addition salt with maleic acid. The present invention further provides different methods to obtain crystalline Form A of flupirtine maleate.