LTS teams up with IntelGenx on VersaFilm
The deal, which was announced yesterday, will see Germany’s LTS act as exclusive manufacturer for pharmaceutical products that employ the polymeric film technology, three of which are currently being developed.
IntelGenx CEO Horst Zerbe explained that LTS is one of a handful of companies with the technical know-how and expertise required to undertake the large-scale, current good manufacturing practice (GMP) standard production of this sort.
Dr Zerbe added that the accord “weds our pharmaceutical film development expertise with LTS's impressive manufacturing capabilities and scope, giving us the necessary tools to successfully develop novel film products from the bench through to regulatory approval.”
He went on to say that the most advanced of the VersaFilm-based drugs, a candidate migraine therapy, has completed pilot bioequivalency studies and that IntelGenx’ plan “is to have LTS begin manufacturing scale up soon."
Lifecycle management
VersaFilm, as the name suggests, is a film wafer technology developed to deliver drugs through the lining of the mouth which, according to InterlGenx, makes it particularly suited to conditions requiring a more rapid onset of action than can be provided by traditional pharmaceutical tablet.
Quebec, Canada headquartered IntelGenx is currently seeking commercialisation partners for the technology and believes that VersaFilm application in lifecycle management may help it win just such a partner.
The firm is already working with Azur Pharma, Dava Pharmaceuticals, Cary Pharmaceuticals and Cannasat Therapeutics and said that it is in discussion with several other parties that are interested in the VersaFilm technology in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries.
