BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
Lyra Therapeutics | February 08, 2023
On February 6, 2023, Lyra Therapeutics, Inc., a leading clinical-stage biotechnology firm developing novel therapies for the localized treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), announced that enrollment in the Phase 2 BEACON clinical trial of LYR-220 in adult patients with CRS who have previously undergone sinus surgery has been completed.
LYR-220 is designed to provide continuous anti-inflammatory medicine (mometasone furoate; MF) to the sinonasal passageways for six months in order to treat CRS. Topline outcomes are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Phase 2 BEACON trial is a sham-controlled, parallel-group trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the LYR-220 (7500g MF) matrix in symptomatic adult CRS patients who have previously had bilateral ethmoid sinus surgery during a 24-week period. The trial is divided into two parts: Part 1 was aimed to examine the feasibility and tolerability of two 7500µg MF matrix designs; in Part 2, 40 patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive LYR-220 or sham control.
Lyra revealed positive preliminary findings from the BEACON trial's Part 1, the non-randomized portion, in September 2022, indicating the feasibility and tolerability of bilateral LYR-220 placement in this patient population. In addition, all six patients were given the medication for at least six weeks, and no significant or unexpected side effects were recorded.
Although efficacy evaluation was not the goal of the trial's uncontrolled Part 1 stage, there was a mean improvement of 21 points (37%) from baseline in the 22-item Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) total score at six weeks. This is more than double the minimal clinically significant difference of 8.9 points.
About Lyra Therapeutics
Founded in 2018, Lyra Therapeutics is a clinical-stage firm pioneering a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of debilitating ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diseases that affect millions of people. Its mission is to change the ENT treatment paradigm by giving physicians effective front-line solutions and innovative therapy alternatives for their patients. The company is working on therapeutics for the localized treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients (CRS). Lyra has two investigational product candidates, LYR-210 and LYR-220, in late-stage development for CRS, which is a common inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses that causes debilitating symptoms and significant morbidities. It is headquartered in the Boston region and was created by academic luminaries in the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology, and is supported by top life science investors.
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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMACY MARKET
PRNewswire | March 23, 2023
Hovione and Laxxon Medical announced a strategic collaboration to advance the use of 3D screen printing technologies for the pharmaceutical industry. This partnership combines Laxxon´s expertise in 3D screen printing, based on their SPID®-Technology, with Hovione's product & process development, engineering and manufacturing expertise in pharmaceutical applications. Under the terms of the agreement, Hovione will establish the Laxxon Medical 3D screen printing technology at Hovione's cGMP production sites first in Portugal and later in the USA.
The 3D technology displays numerous advantages including the potential to produce unique or customized dosage forms with characteristics that cannot be achieved with conventional dosage forms, the ability to create tablets of any shape and size, the option to easily adjust the number of active substances and individual components in the composition of the tablet and even to set the dosage individually for each patient for personalized medicines.
"Laxxon is thrilled to establish a long-term partnership with Hovione." said Klaus Kuehne, COO of Laxxon Medical. "This partnership will serve as a great accelerator in establishing 3D screen printing within the pharmaceutical industry thus accelerating our ability to serve our customers." "Hovione has a global reputation for their pharmaceutical innovation services, expertise and market access. This agreement marks a significant milestone for Laxxon in terms of our own market strategy and development efforts." said Helmut Kerschbaumer, Laxxon's CEO. "We are looking forward to collaborating with Hovione to promote innovation through 3D screen printing."
"We find the Laxxon Medical 3D printing technology to be very innovative and enabling. It not only allows for the customization and production of drug products with complex shapes and structures as well as unique API release characteristics but it also has the potential to reduce the time and cost of drug development" says Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione´s CEO. He adds "Hovione has a track record of turning emerging pharmaceutical production technologies into reliable and scalable offerings at both developmental and commercial scales. We are excited at the prospect of supporting Laxxon in industrializing its 3D printing technology and make it accessible to a greater number of pharmaceutical and medical device companies."
With this partnership the platform will be available from early development phases to routine commercial manufacturing.
About Hovione
Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) Hovione has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione´s culture is based on innovation, quality and delivery. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to become a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.
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PHARMA TECH
Douglas Pharmaceuticals | January 27, 2023
A clinical advisory board has been established to support Douglas Pharmaceuticals' lead program R-107, an oral extended-release dose of racemic ketamine being developed as an adjunctive or stand-alone therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
Douglas Pharmaceuticals is a New Zealand-based pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of specialty generic and repurposed medications (TRD).
Peter Surman, Chief Scientific Officer expressed, "We are very excited to bring together a group of world-class experts in the field of psychiatry, to help guide our late-stage development of R-107." "We believe their deep knowledge in the field, insights and contributions will be instrumental in charting an efficient course through pivotal clinical studies in TRD," he added.
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
Some of the members of the clinical advisory board are as follows:
• Prof. Paul Glue [MB, ChB (Otago), MD (Bristol), FRCPsych]
• Prof. Alan F. Schatzberg, [MD] • Prof. Sanjay J. Mathew [MD]
• Prof. Allan Young [MB, ChB, MPhil, Ph.D., FRCP (Edin.), FRCPC, FRCPsych]
• Prof. Wiesław J. Cubała, [MD, PhD]
• Prof. Colleen Loo [MBBS (Hons), FRANZCP, MD]
About Douglas Pharmaceuticals
New Zealand's largest private pharmaceutical and healthcare firm, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, employs over 700 people and exports to over 40 countries. The company provides creative, competitive, and high-quality healthcare solutions to 'improve lives'. It designs, manufactures, and distributes unique and generic products, preferring those with significant intellectual property and technological complexity in high-unmet need sectors. The company's presence in international markets continues to grow, exposing New Zealand to the world. It is dedicated to improving people's health all around the globe. Some of the products that the company works with cutting-edge partners to develop, make, market, and distribute are pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, automated compliance systems, and consumer healthcare items.
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