Almirall, a Spanish-based pharma company, and Meda, a Swedish-based pharmaceutical company, have entered into a strategic partnership agreement regarding the Inhalation Products Division of Meda that develops the Novolizer, a multidose dry powder inhaler for administration of products to treat respiratory conditions.
Through the partnership agreement, Meda can concentrate on marketing Novolizer products currently on the market, while Almirall takes over and funds continued R&D for pharmaceutical substances, including Almirall´s pipeline products, with the Novolizer system. The collaboration agreement regulates the way in which future market rights and market initiatives for certain defined development projects are divided between the partners. Through this partnership, Meda achieves considerable profitability gains, while product development can be accelerated.
Almirall on the other hand gains access to an inhalation platform to enhance its overall respiratory R&D capabilities.
In August 2005, Meda acquired Viatris, a German pharma group, which included an R&D unit that worked with inhalation technology for respiratory treatment. Novolizer, which was developed in this unit, is a patented dry powder inhaler, with unique technical features.
For several years, an agreement has existed with Almirall for the development of one of its leading respiratory pipeline products, LAS34273, in the Novolizer. The partnership is now strengthened through Almirall's acquisition of Meda's development unit and intellectual property rights to the Novolizer technology. Meda retains license rights that are necessary for its own operation.
LAS34273 is Almirall's most advanced compound in development and is a once-daily, long-acting anticholinergic compound for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). LAS34273 recently demonstrated promising results in a large, multicentre Phase II study and has just entered into two major, multinational and multicentre Phase III trials called ACCLAIM I & II (Anticholinergic LAS34273 Clinical trial assessing efficacy and safety in moderate to severe COPD patients).
Almirall recently entered into a collaboration agreement with Forest Laboratories Holdings, Ltd. for the development and commercialisation of LAS34273 in the United States.
Through this agreement with Meda, Almirall will take over and fund all continued R&D of new pharmaceutical substances in the Novolizer product line. Consequently, all employees (about 70 persons) within Meda's Inahalation Products Division will be offered employment at Almirall. Meda is gathering marketing forces that will contribute to increased patient use of the Novolizer system in the long and short terms. Meda continues to exclusively market the Novolizer line with current pharmaceuticals substances (budesonide, formoterol, and salbutamol). Almirall has a strong pipeline of new substances that are well-suited for the inhalation system, and the company will carry responsibility and costs for these development projects. The collaboration agreement regulates the way in which market rights and market initiatives for certain defined projects are divided between the partners. Almirall and Meda will also co-operate in the production area.
"I'm very pleased to have reached this agreement with Meda" says Jorge Gallardo, Almirall's CEO. "It will allow us to strengthen our overall development capabilities, particularly in respiratory I'm certain that this is a win-win situation for both companies, and we look forward to continue the collaboration with Meda."
"With this partnership, Meda can concentrate on marketing," says Anders Lönner, Meda's CEO. "Almirall has extensive expertise and a strong pipeline within the respiratory area. Both partners gain considerable advantage and employees in the development unit are assured of long-term investment in a leading technology."