Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focussed on the global nephrology market, has recently been granted patents by the Japanese and Chinese patent offices for its nanomicellar formulation of voclosporin. These are in addition to multiple other patents that have been issued and granted in the United States, Mexico and Australia for ophthalmic administration of voclosporin. Further patent prosecution in other regions is ongoing.

“We are very excited about the potential for ocular administration of voclosporin utilising this unique nanomicellar drug delivery technology. This formulation enables high concentrations of voclosporin to be put into solution for local delivery to the ocular surface” says Stephen Zaruby, president & chief executive officer, of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Completed preclinical and phase I studies using this nanomicellar technology in combination with voclosporin have shown encouraging results in terms of delivery of active drug to target tissues. In addition this nanomicellar formulation of voclosporin has the potential to improve
dosing frequency and tolerability.

“Ophthalmic nanomicellar voclosporin has the potential to compete in the billion dollar prescription dry eye market currently dominated by Restasis (Cyclosporin ophthalmic emulsion 0.05 per cent) with what appears to be a very competitive product profile” says Neil Solomons, MD, chief medical officer of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

“The Company plans to review its strategic options as it relates to this ophthalmic formulation of voclosporin and the nanomicellar delivery technology including but not limited to outlicensing or divestiture while at the same time remaining focussed on our lupus nephritis programme” says
Zaruby.