SurModics, Inc, a leading provider of drug delivery and surface modification technologies to the healthcare industry, has signed a license and development agreement with Roche and Genentech, Inc, a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group. Under this agreement, Roche and Genentech have obtained an exclusive license to use SurModics' proprietary biodegradable microparticles drug delivery system to develop and commercialize a sustained drug delivery formulation of Lucentis (ranibizumab injection). The agreement further provides Roche and Genentech with opportunities to develop additional compounds for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, SurModics will receive an up-front licensing fee of $3.5 million. In addition, SurModics could be eligible to receive up to approximately $200 million in fees and milestone payments in the event of the successful development and commercialization of multiple products. Roche and Genentech will pay SurModics for its development services and have the right to obtain manufacturing services from SurModics. Also, SurModics will receive undisclosed royalties on product sales.

"This agreement represents yet another major advancement toward realizing our strategic vision of developing technologies that address important clinical needs in the large and growing ophthalmology market," said Bruce Barclay, president and CEO of SurModics. "We believe that partnering with Genentech, among the world's largest and most prominent biotechnology companies and an established market leader in ophthalmology, serves to validate our critically enabling technologies. The agreement, which includes Lucentis and potentially other products, addresses a wide range of ophthalmic diseases and leverages our expertise and technology platforms in ophthalmology, employs our proprietary biodegradable microparticles drug delivery system from SurModics Pharmaceuticals, and will utilize our new world-class cGMP manufacturing facility in Birmingham, Alabama."

Barclay added, "This agreement has the opportunity to provide both near- and long-term value to SurModics' shareholders. The combination of the up-front payment, R&D and manufacturing fees and contingent milestone payments underscore the unique advantages and power of our business model. The prospect of developing a sustained delivery formulation for a known, approved and highly successful drug in Lucentis, is a tremendous opportunity for SurModics."

Lucentis is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).