Pharmalink Acquires Novel Therapeutic Product Candidate for Treating Inflammation Associated With Osteoarthritis
STOCKHOLM, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Pharmalink AB, a specialty pharma company, announces that it has acquired a novel product candidate in development for treating inflammation from Synartro AB. No financial details are disclosed.
The product candidate, which consists of an anti-inflammatory drug conjugated to a biopolymer, has been developed using Synartro's drug delivery technology to create locally acting pharmaceuticals with limited systemic exposure. Pharmalink intends to develop the product for osteoarthritis, an indication where it has demonstrated promising results in pre-clinical studies. Pharmalink will apply its formulation and clinical development expertise to advance the candidate product through clinical trials towards market.
Pharmalink has extensive experience in developing locally delivered anti-inflammatory drugs with limited systemic uptake. Its most advanced product is Nefecon®, a new oral, modified-release capsule of the corticosteroid, budesonide, in Phase 2b clinical development for treating patients with IgA nephropathy at risk of developing end-stage renal disease, despite optimized standard-of-care therapy.
Johan Häggblad, Managing Director of Pharmalink, said: "The acquisition of this novel product opportunity is a great addition to our pipeline and an example of the progress we are making in executing our strategy. This candidate product offers exciting potential for development in multiple inflammatory indications where local administration of the drug without systemic effects is important. It is also a good strategic fit with our existing clinical-stage portfolio."
Rune Ringom, CEO at Synartro, said: "We are very pleased to close this deal with Pharmalink. It marks the immediate interest in our biopolymer expertise for developing drug products that provide sustained local release to target tissues with minimized systemic exposure, and the realisation of our business strategy."
About Pharmalink
Pharmalink is a specialty pharma company developing high value products for niche and orphan indications. Pharmalink draws on its extensive experience of pharmaceutical development and marketing to identify and progress products that address significant unmet medical needs. With a successful history in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, and highly experienced, dynamic management team, Pharmalink is focused on the development and commercialization of valuable, de-risked projects. It has two late-stage clinical phase products under development, Nefecon® and Busulipo™. Pharmalink is actively seeking opportunities to acquire or in-licence product opportunities in niche and hospital care indications. Visit http://www.pharmalink.se for further information.
About Synartro
Synartro is a research and development company in Uppsala, Sweden developing improved treatments using patented proprietary drug delivery technology.
Synartro finds novel uses for existing drugs and apply the technology to develop a pipeline of repositioned drug candidates for important medical needs. The product development aims to manufacture novel formulations based on well-established drugs which show improved properties, a reduced side-effect profile and an expanded therapeutic area.
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