PHARMACY MARKET
Businesswire | May 11, 2023
Simulations Plus, Inc. a leading provider of modeling and simulation software and services for pharmaceutical safety and efficacy, announced the release of a new integrated pulmonary software and services package. This targeted package will support pharmaceutical companies by streamlining their pulmonary drug development processes, enabling them to make better-informed decisions and bring therapies to market faster.
The pulmonary package offered by Simulations Plus is founded on the industry leading GastroPlus® modeling and simulation platform, which can be used to predict localized exposure in the lungs. That localized exposure data is then utilized to inform the ILDsym™ or IPFsym™ platforms for efficacy predictions. As client ventures launch and progress, Simulations Plus scientists will leverage their 40+ years of combined experience in pulmonary exposure and efficacy modeling to train in-house client experts on how to use the software and create models to accurately predict the exposure and efficacy of their pulmonary assets.
“Developing molecules intended to treat interstitial lung disease (ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a daunting challenge; they are serious conditions with no known cures,” explained Dr. Brett A. Howell, President of the DILIsym Services division at Simulations Plus. “We anticipate that the use of our targeted pulmonary package could lead to an acceleration in the development of treatments to slow or even halt progression of these diseases. By integrating the industry-leading platforms for PBPK/PCAT™, quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), and the expertise of our scientists, along with the training of in-house scientists, we believe we can help our clients develop therapies that will improve and even extend the lives of patients worldwide.”
“Hiring and retaining skilled modelers is difficult, which is why many companies develop talent from within,” noted Vice President of Business Development Josh Fohey. “While we are always pleased to assist with our clients’ drug development programs as an extension of their team, we also want to empower them to engage with their models and data beyond what is typical with consulting relationships. As part of our Pulmonary Package, client teams benefit from a customized learning package using the tools in their program, implemented with support and guidance from our experts. Together, we can better understand lung absorption and efficacy, and find new treatments for respiratory disease.”
About Simulations Plus
Serving clients worldwide for more than 25 years, Simulations Plus is a leading provider in the biosimulation market providing software and consulting services supporting drug discovery, development, research, and regulatory submissions. We offer solutions that bridge artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning, physiologically based pharmacokinetics, quantitative systems pharmacology/toxicology, and population PK/PD modeling approaches. Our technology is licensed and applied by major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and regulatory agencies worldwide.
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PHARMACY MARKET
Globenewswire | May 16, 2023
Athenex, Inc. a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related conditions, today announced that, following an ongoing strategic review, it has reached agreement with its lenders to move forward with an expedited sales process of the Company’s assets across its primary businesses: Athenex Pharmaceutical Division (“APD”), Orascovery, and Cell Therapy.
To best facilitate this process, Athenex and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. This will enable the Company to divest its assets and wind down the Athenex platform in an orderly fashion, while seeking to maximize value for its stakeholders. The Company anticipates concluding the expedited sales process by July 1, 2023, with the Chapter 11 cases continuing thereafter to resolve claims.
Athenex has also reached an agreement with its secured lenders, subject to court approval, for the consensual use of cash collateral, which will enable the Company to, among other things, satisfy certain obligations to its vendors for authorized goods received and services rendered after the filing. Athenex Pharma Solutions (“APS”), which includes the Company’s manufacturing facility in Clarence, New York, is expected to continue its operations for at least the next 90 days, to provide commercial supply of tirbanibulin ointment. In addition, APD is continuing to operate in the ordinary course and fill customer orders with the ample inventory it has on hand.
Dr. Johnson Lau, Chief Executive Officer of Athenex, on behalf of the management team and the Athenex Board of Directors, said, “Throughout our history, we have sought to become a leader in bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and improving patient health outcomes. Our team was successful in bringing tirbanibulin, through regulatory approvals, to the U.S. market and a number of EU countries, as well as Taiwan. Unfortunately, our oral paclitaxel product candidate received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and this significant regulatory setback, coupled with challenging biotech markets and the difficult economic environment, put tremendous pressure on our ability to continue to fund our businesses.
“Over the past two years, we made considerable progress in refocusing our business around our promising NKT cell therapy platform, monetizing non-core assets to improve our balance sheet and extending our cash runway, paying down $108 million of debt, and undertaking a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to create value for our stakeholders. While we explored every viable avenue to avoid this outcome, an orderly sales process represents the best path forward at this time.
“Our goal remains to identify purchasers who will continue development of the important drug candidates for which we have established a good foundation, and to bring them to market on behalf of medical practitioners and, most importantly, for patients. We are incredibly thankful to our team for their dedication to Athenex and will look to support our colleagues through this transition period.”
Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP is acting as Athenex's legal counsel. MERU is serving as its financial advisor and Cassel Salpeter & Co., LLC as its investment banker.
About Athenex, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Athenex, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader in the discovery, development, and commercialization of next-generation cell therapy products for the treatment of cancer. The Company’s mission is to become a leader in bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and to improve patient health outcomes. In pursuit of this mission, Athenex leverages years of experience in research and development, clinical trials, regulatory standards, and manufacturing. The Company is focused on its innovative Cell Therapy platform, based on natural killer T (“NKT”) cells.
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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMACY MARKET
Businesswire | May 10, 2023
AustinPx, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in analytical and formulation development services and cGMP manufacturing for small molecule drugs, today announced the expansion of its capabilities to meet industry demand for the Company’s services and expertise. The Company has added new spray drying and encapsulation capabilities and has also expanded its GMP manufacturing capacity for high shear and fluid bed granulation.
AustinPx has installed and validated a Dott. Bonapace INCAP capsule filler, a Freund-Vector VFC3 model fluid bed, and a Freund-Vector GMXB-Pilot model granulator. The INCAP rounds out the Company’s solid dose manufacturing capabilities, while the fluid bed and granulator supplement the Company’s manufacturing scale.
“The investments are a key component of AustinPx’s larger strategy to expand our oral dose development and manufacturing capabilities to better serve our clients’ increasing demand,” said Justin Keen, PhD, senior vice president operations. “The additions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing our clients with the best possible service and support."
In line with the Company’s mission of providing science-driven formulation development, AustinPx has installed a PROCEPT modular 4M8-Trix for the development of spray dried amorphous solid dispersions. The addition supplements AustinPx’s current portfolio of bioavailability enhancement technologies, including KinetiSol® Technology - the Company’s proprietary fusion-based amorphous dispersion manufacturing platform.
“We are excited to add spray drying to our portfolio,” said Dave Miller, PhD, chief scientific officer. “When combined with our existing formulation capabilities, the addition enables us to provide a comprehensive suite of bioavailability enhancement solutions to identify the optimal formulation pathway for poorly soluble compounds and address a greater number of our clients’ challenges.”
The expanded capabilities are now available for use. These additions are the first of several strategic investments planned for the Company in the immediate future, as AustinPx continues to position itself as a leading CDMO in the pharmaceutical industry.
About AustinPx
AustinPx, Pharmaceutics and Manufacturing, is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing analytical and formulation development services and cGMP manufacturing for small molecule drugs. We specialize in phase-appropriate development strategies, speed to clinic and market strategies, and bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble molecules - including our next generation amorphous dispersion platform, KinetiSol® Technology.
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