If successful in animals, companies could continue development.
Zealand Pharma will apply Vyteris’ technology to the controlled transdermal delivery of its peptide optimization technology. Vyteris’ drug delivery patch, LidoSite®, has marketing clearance from the FDA.
Initially, the companies will test the feasibility of smart patch-based transdermal delivery of a peptide drug candidate in animal models. In the second phase, they will decide whether or not to further develop and commercialize the peptides in Zealand Pharma’s portfolio.
Zealand Pharma’s pipeline includes five compounds in clinical development, four of which have been out licensed. Sanofi-aventis is conducting Phase III studies in type 2 diabetes, Action Pharma is assessing a compound in Phase II for postsurgical organ failure, Helsinn Healthcare’s Phase I candidate is a therapy for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, and Wyeth is in Phase I development with an atrial fibrillation drug. Zealand Pharma is testing an inflammatory bowel disease treatment candidate in Phase I and has preclinical projects in osteoporosis.
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Other News Pertaining to Transdermal Delivery
Amylin and Lilly Take Over Transdermal Exenatide from Altea (April 1, 2009)
Lilly Gains Access to TransPharma’s Transdermal Osteoporosis Product for $35M Upfront (June 12, 2008)
Noven Receives $5.9M in ADHD Patch Partnership with Shire (June 20, 2007)