Healthcare Industry News: Captisol-enabled
News Release - October 3, 2007
Pediatric Asthma Programs With CyDex Captisol Technology Acquired by AstraZeneca
North American Rights to Captisol-enabled Budesonide Solution Included in Purchase of Pediatric Asthma Development ProgramsLENEXA, Kan.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--CyDex, Inc. today announced that rights to pediatric asthma development programs that include CyDex's Captisol-enabled® technology have been acquired from Verus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by AstraZeneca.
CyDex is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a pipeline of products based on Captisol - an enabling technology that enhances drug solubility, stability and bioavailability. Four Captisol-enabled licensed products currently are being commercially marketed, and four CyDex products are currently in clinical trials.
As part of the acquisition, the license agreement between CyDex and Verus relating to the North American rights to a Captisol-enabled budesonide solution (controller medication) has been assigned to an AstraZeneca subsidiary. According to a Verus press release, the transaction also includes a proprietary short-acting beta agonist solution (rescue medication), a customized version of eFlow® (novel nebulizer delivery device) for use with both the controller medication and the rescue medication, and other intellectual property and related assets.
Captisol is a modified, patent-protected cyclodextrin that improves the solubility, stability and bioavailability of water-insoluble drugs such as budesonide.
About CyDex, Inc.
CyDex, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products and licensing its Captisol® enabling technology. CyDex is developing its own pipeline of products using its enabling technology solutions, and partnering with leading pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Four Captisol-enabled® drugs are currently being commercially marketed. These include Bristol Myers Squibb's Abilify IM(TM), Pfizer Animal Health's Cerenia(TM) and Geodon for Injection and Vfend IV, both marketed globally by Pfizer Inc. CyDex is a privately held company located in suburban Kansas City. To learn more about the company, please visit www.cydexinc.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN ) is a major international healthcare business engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US $23.95 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection product sales. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
Verus® is a registered trademark of Verus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Captisol® and Captisol-enabled® are registered trademarks of CyDex, Inc., and eFlow® is a registered trademark of PARI Pharma GmbH.
Source: CyDex
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