Chiesi and Vectura extend collaboration in pMDI field
12 Jul 2001
Chiesi and Vectura extend collaboration in pMDI field
Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA (Chiesi) and Vectura Limited (Vectura) today announced the signing of a new collaboration agreement to provide development and manufacturing services in the field of pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs) to third party pharmaceutical companies. PMDIs are aerosols containing drugs dissolved or dispersed in propellants pressurised in cans and which are widely used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The two companies have been working together for some time to develop a range of new pMDI formulations utilising the HydroFluoroAlkane (HFA) propellants, which are now replacing CFCs and are believed to be more environmentally friendly. Chiesi already has one HFA product, based on the widely-used drug, beclomethasone dipropionate, launched in France, and has a number of other formulations, utilising its patent-protected Modulite HFA formulation technology, in advanced development. This new agreement commits Vectura and Chiesi to co-operate together in providing formulation and manufacturing services to third party pharmaceutical companies that have new patented compounds requiring a pMDI delivery system. Vectura will provide formulation development services and Chiesi will supply scale-up and manufacturing capability.Dr Paolo Chiesi, R&D Director of Chiesi, commenting on the new agreement, said "Chiesi and Vectura have forged a very strong working collaboration in the field of pMDI development and have together generated some exciting Intellectual Property covering the newer HFA formulations. We are pleased to extend our collaboration to providing the benefits of this expertise to third party companies."
Mr Peter Virley, CEO of Vectura, commented "The move from CFCs to HFAs has created some new pharmaceutical formulation problems that Chiesi and Vectura, with their expertise and intellectual property, are well positioned to solve. We have already been approached by many companies interested in what we can offer for new anti-asthma drugs."
Notes
Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA is a privately-owned research-based pharmaceutical company located in Parma, Italy. Chiesi's core business areas are asthma, cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal. The Chiesi group turnover in 2000 was about 400 million euros. The company, which ranks 15th in the Italian market, also has subsidiary operations in France, UK, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Greece, Brazil and Pakistan. The Company's business strategy is to consolidate and expand its direct presence in Europe, and to maximise its sales through distributors in other countries.
Vectura Limited is a fast-growing drug delivery company with an established reputation as a leading European provider of innovative inhaler formulations for pulmonary delivery. The Company specialises in the application of its core expertise in particle science to the development of unique technology platforms and enhanced-performance products with high commercial value.
The Company's research and development team is developing a range of patent-protected drug delivery technology platforms, both in the pulmonary and other market sectors. These platforms will be designed to deliver drugs in a more cost-effective manner, thus enabling better life-cycle management opportunities for pharmaceutical companies as well as better treatment outcomes and greater satisfaction for patients.
Vectura has targeted specific product development opportunities in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain management and in the systemic delivery of inhaled macromolecules, such as insulin.
Vectura employs over 100 people at its Chippenham site and at the Cambridge Science Park. Its major shareholders are Friends Ivory and Sime funds, Merlin funds, the University of Bath and its management.
For further information please contact:
For Chiesi:
Gaetano Brambilla
Tel: +39 0521 279680
Email: g.brambilla@chiesigroup.com
Vectura Limited
Peter Virley
Tel: +44 (0)1249 667700
Fax: +44 (0)1249 667701
Email: enquiries@vectura.com
Financial Dynamics
David Yates / Lucy Briggs
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 269 7242
