CyDex Inc announced its first agreement for use of the advanced formulation system, Captisol, in animal health products. CyDex has licensed Captisol to the Animal Health Group of Pfizer Inc for formulating veterinary medications.

The agreement builds on a longstanding relationship between CyDex and Pfizer for the development of human pharmaceuticals. In 1993, Pfizer licensed Captisol as a delivery vehicle for potential drugs in its pharmaceutical pipeline.

Peter Higuchi, president and CEO of CyDex, said: "CyDex continues to broaden the applications of our technology to enhance the value of innovative new drugs, and we are very pleased to begin this collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health. Pfizer has been a very supportive partner for CyDex, and working with Animal Health is a natural extension of our relationship."

In addition to the Pfizer collaborations, CyDex has licensed Captisol for use in human pharmaceuticals under development by Allergan Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., PTC Pharma AG, OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc, Suntory Ltd. Pharmaceutical Division, and Genentech Inc.

Captisol improves the solubility, stability and bioavailability of certain drug compounds, promoting effective delivery of medications. Captisol is a donut-shaped molecule that complexes water insoluble active drugs in its central cavity. When given by injection, a Captisol formulation helps carry a drug into the patient's bloodstream, where Captisol and the drug then disassociate, allowing the drug to produce its desired pharmacological effect. When taken orally or by other routes (inhalation, ophthalmic, etc), a Captisol formulation can keep the drug stable and in solution until the medication is absorbed by the body. A number of potential oral formulations are in early development.