Pharmacy Market
PRNewswire | August 04, 2023
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has entered a collaboration and license agreement with Novartis for the discovery, development and commercialization of a novel medicine for patients with lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a)-driven cardiovascular disease (CVD). This builds on the companies' existing collaboration focused on the development and commercialization of pelacarsen, which Novartis is currently evaluating in a Phase 3 cardiovascular outcome study. The next generation compound will be a potential follow-on to pelacarsen.
"We are pleased to expand our productive collaboration with Novartis aimed at delivering transformative therapies to patients with elevated Lp(a) who are at high risk of cardiovascular events," said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., Ionis' chief executive officer. "This collaboration is designed to leverage Ionis' advancing RNA-targeting platform technologies to deliver a novel Lp(a)-targeting therapy that we expect will provide industry-leading efficacy and dosing frequency."
Ionis will receive a $60 million upfront payment from Novartis and is eligible to earn development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties. Novartis will be solely responsible for the development, manufacturing and potential commercialization of the next generation Lp(a) therapy.
The agreement is subject to the satisfaction of requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
About Lp(a)
Lp(a) is a lipoprotein particle assembled in the liver that consists of a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-like particle and apolipoprotein(a). Lp(a) levels in the blood can vary greatly between individuals primarily due to genetic variations and do not correlate with LDL-C levels. Even patients with LDL-C lowered to target levels (<70 mg/dL) remain at high-risk of cardiovascular events if they have high levels of Lp(a). Elevated Lp(a) is a genetically determined condition that is not responsive to lifestyle changes, therefore patients are unable to adequately control their Lp(a) levels through improved diet or increased physical activity. Elevated Lp(a) is recognized as an independent, genetic cause of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and aortic stenosis. Currently, there is no effective drug therapy to specifically and robustly lower elevated levels of Lp(a).
About Pelacarsen
Pelacarsen was discovered by Ionis and licensed to Novartis in 2019 for exclusive worldwide development, manufacturing and commercialization. It is an investigational antisense medicine designed to reduce apolipoprotein(a) production in the liver to offer a direct approach for reducing circulating Lp(a). It is estimated that more than eight million people worldwide have elevated Lp(a) and CVD.
Pelacarsen is currently being evaluated in Lp(a) HORIZON (NCT04023552), a global, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled pivotal Phase 3 study conducted by Novartis. The study completed enrollment with 8,323 participants. Data are expected in 2025.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Ionis has been a leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care. Ionis currently has four marketed medicines and a promising late-stage pipeline highlighted by cardiovascular and neurological franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision to become the leader in genetic medicine, utilizing a multi-platform approach to discover, develop and deliver life-transforming therapies.
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PHARMACY MARKET, PHARMA TECH
Businesswire | July 12, 2023
Kindeva Drug Delivery, a global leader in contract drug delivery development and manufacturing services and technology, and H&T Presspart (a division of the Heitkamp & Thumann Group), a market leader in respiratory drug delivery systems design, development, and manufacturing, are partnering with Chiesi Group, an international research-focused biopharmaceutical and healthcare group, for the installation of a production line for dose counter (DC) and dose indicator (DI) devices. Combining the specific expertise of each partner, H&T Presspart will manufacture Kindeva Drug Delivery’s dose counters under license for Chiesi Group for their pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) portfolio.
This partnership is a continuation of the agreement signed in 2014 between Kindeva Drug Delivery and H&T Presspart to accelerate the growth of Kindeva Drug Delivery’s dose counter technology. This technology enhances patient safety by providing real-time information on the remaining doses in inhalers, preventing unexpected shortages. H&T Presspart will expand the cleanroom facilities at their Marsberg, Germany, site to support the dose counter production. As part of this strategic partnership, Chiesi Group will use dose counters in their innovative carbon minimal pMDI portfolio, which uses a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) propellant to minimize the climate impact of the inhalers, while maintaining all the therapeutic options that patients suffering from respiratory diseases need.
David Stevens, global chief commercial officer of Kindeva Drug Delivery, stated: “Kindeva is pleased to extend this strategic partnership as it solidifies our core objective of improving the lives of patients around the world. Kindeva embraces the responsibility it has in ensuring that patients who depend upon our device technology are reliably supplied, and we believe that this innovative supply chain collaboration further underscores this commitment.”
Roberto Della Valle, head of global direct procurement of Chiesi Group, added: “Chiesi, with its patient-centric approach, is dedicated to delivering therapeutic solutions that enhance patients’ health and quality of life. Collaborating with Kindeva and H&T Presspart exemplifies this commitment, and we are thrilled to take this step forward. By providing an inhaler that reassures patients about the remaining dose count, we aim to enhance their safety and confidence.”
Christian Kraetzig, president of H&T Presspart, commented: “With our expertise in device industrialization and manufacturing, this agreement marks another step in our journey to becoming a leading development and contract manufacturing partner in drug delivery devices.”
About Kindeva Drug Delivery
Kindeva Drug Delivery is a global contract development manufacturing organization focused on drug-device combination products. Kindeva Drug Delivery develops and manufactures products across a broad range of complex drug-delivery formats, including injectables (autoinjector, intradermal, microneedle), pulmonary & nasal, and transdermal patches. Its service offering spans early-stage feasibility through commercial scale drug product fill-finish, container closure system manufacturing, and drug-device product assembly. Kindeva Drug Delivery serves a global client base from its nine manufacturing and research and development facilities located in the U.S. and U.K.
About Chiesi Group
Chiesi is an international, research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment. By changing its legal status to a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, and France, Chiesi’s commitment to create shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035. With over 85 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), operates in 31 countries, and counts more than 6,500 employees.
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Pharma Tech
PRNewswire | June 29, 2023
WCG, one of the world's leading providers of solutions that measurably improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of clinical research, recently announced a partnership with Mint Medical to leverage its mint Lesion™ radiology platform for oncology trials.
The mint Lesion™ software is used for standardized and computer-assisted review of medical imaging according to defined protocols, guidelines, and workflows. Compliant and highly configurable, mint Lesion™ is a trusted imaging software for oncology clinical trials, offering quick deployment and more than 20 standardized and configurable response criteria templates out of the box.
Through this partnership, WCG will combine its suite of clinical trial management solutions: operational processes, quality systems, imaging solutions, technology, and expansive reviewer network with mint Lesion's™ verified, read-ready platform, structured reporting, and site-specific workflows for a best-in-class solution for oncology trials.
"The combination of WCG and Mint Medical offers a powerful solution to the market. WCG's teams are experts in study management and have a proven record of managing international clinical trials across all therapeutic areas and indications, including oncology," said Terri Moench, president, WCG Clinical Research Solutions. "Our ISO-certified processes ensure the processing of participant images received from sites are meticulously planned, implemented, and monitored for success. Combine that with mint Lesion™, a technology built to keep pace with changing requirements and the demand for new response criteria, and you have a solution that is unmatched in the industry."
"WCG impressed us with their swift and sound implementation of our groundbreaking technology," said Matthew Hayden, executive director of Clinical Research Operations, Mint Medical. "After just one in-person meeting we crafted a fully operational, fully compliant reading platform that was built and ready for live trial use in just one month. Through this collaborative endeavor, we have forged a dynamic partnership that ensures rapid adaptability to our customers' evolving needs and requirements."
About Mint Medical
Mint Medical GmbH located in Heidelberg/Germany was founded in 2010 as a spin-off of German Cancer Research Center. The company commits itself to developing innovative software solutions in the field of medical imaging and combines image assessment and reporting in one system by considering guidelines for each clinical application context. A particular focus is currently being set on the field of oncology where the software platform mint Lesion™ is applied in clinical routine and clinical trials. Customers of Mint Medical are radiological practices, (university) hospitals, cancer centers, (Imaging) CROs, as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies all over the world. In addition to the headquarters in Germany, the company has a subsidiary, Mint Medical Inc., in New Jersey, USA.
About WCG
WCG is a global leader of solutions that measurably improve and accelerate clinical research. Biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, contract research organizations (CROs), research institutions, and sites partner with us for our unmatched expertise, data intelligence, and purpose-built technology to make informed decisions and optimize study outcomes, while maintaining the highest standards of human participant protection. WCG raises the bar by pioneering new concepts, reimagining processes, fostering compliance and safety, and empowering those who perform clinical trials to accelerate the delivery of medical therapies and devices that improve lives.
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