Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, has acquired intellectual property, including a provisional patent application, related to an ophthalmic compound for intraoperative ocular injection of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents. The company believes this formulation has the potential to significantly impact the fast-growing $5 billion global cataract surgery drug market.
This acquisition allows Imprimis to pursue the commercial development of certain proprietary innovations and also provides Imprimis with a preemptive right on additional Novel Drug Solutions and Eye Care Northwest intellectual property and drug development opportunities.
Imprimis CEO, Mark L Baum, said, "This is an important acquisition of a novel drug formulation with an important clinical track record. It is gratifying to see our Asset Review Methodology (ARM) at work. We believe that going forward our growing group of drug discovery and development relationships will bring additional clinically relevant formulations to our company, and these assets will drive additional value for our shareholders. We are in the process of conducting a feasibility assessment related to the development of this asset, together with a team which consists of leaders from the ophthalmic development and regulatory community. Imprimis will continue to develop partnerships with inventors and secure assets which will support our strategic objectives."
The target compound, referred to as IPI-140, is based on a novel combination of moxifloxacin and triamcinolone. IPI-140 was co-invented by Novel Drug Solutions of Randolph, New Jersey and Dr Jeffrey T Liegner of Sparta, New Jersey. IPI-140 has been successfully administered by Dr Liegner in more than 1,500 patients in his surgical practice.
Dr Liegner stated, "The current treatment regimen for the prevention of post-cataract surgery complication is primarily a pre-operative and post-operative self-administered eye drop regimen, which requires from the patient strict compliance and careful adherence to a prescribed dosing schedule. Individuals with physical limitations, impaired manual dexterity, or those who lack of a supportive care giver, are particularly vulnerable to non-compliance and the subsequent complications of untreated post-surgical issues. This uniquely designed drug, utilizing a fourth generation quinolone therapy combined with potent inflammatory suppression, when placed as a depot inside the vitreous concurrent with cataract surgery, or any intraocular procedure, addresses the primary ocular complications of ophthalmic surgery: infection risk and post-operative inflammation."
Imprimis believes that IPI140 may have broad application in ophthalmic surgery, including the $5 billion global cataract surgery drug market. According to Ocular Surgery News, the cataract surgery market continues to grow tremendously not only because of the expanding aging population, but because the age at which patients demand cataract surgery has lowered, portending a global market size of $7-$9 billion in the next five - seven years.
Imprimis expects to continue to leverage its exclusive relationships with Novel Drug Solutions, Eye Care Northwest, and others to acquire assets with a proven clinical track record.
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the commercialization of drug formulations through a growing proprietary network of compounding pharmacy relationships and by utilizing the FDA 505(b)(2) development pathway.