Eurand to co-develop GSK drug
(€33m) licensing deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to make a new
formulation of one of the British pharma giant's drugs.
The two companies will develop a version of an undisclosed GSK product using Eurand's Microcaps taste-masking and AdvaTab oral disintegration tablet technologies.
Under the terms of the deal, GSK will fund the drug development and Eurand will receive royalties on product sales. In addition, GSK will have exclusive rights in the United States to commercialise the new product.
The companies said they expect to enter clinical trials by this year and file an application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2007.
Orally disintegrating tablets and fast dissolving (or fast melt) dosage forms are one of the fastest growing segments in the oral drug delivery industry, valued $30bn (€26bn) in 2004, as companies turn to it to differentiate their products in the marketplace.
However, according to Eurand, the unpleasant taste of drugs significantly restricts the application of other fast dissolve technologies.
The firm claims that "the pairing of its two technologies creates products that offer the dual advantage of a patient preferred dosage form with a superior taste and smooth mouth feel."
"The combination of our Microcaps and AdvaTab technologies has received an enthusiastic reception from industry leaders such as GSK," said Gearóid Faherty, chief executive officer of Eurand.
As a result, the company has hinted of further deals expected to result out of "advanced negotiations with firms in Japan, Europe and the USA for a range of different products."
