This is the second subsidiary of Germany's Schering that will launch Ventavis to its patients in conjunction with Prodose. Profile is supplying an initial order of over 60 devices to Schering France and will receive an annual fee for each patient.
The nebuliser machines offer significant advantages over current delivery technologies, including more accurate and flexible dosing and improved patient compliance. For example, in the case of the asthma drug albuterol, the volume of drug required for nebulisation is reduced from 3ml to 0.7ml using the ProDose technology.
Profile said it is continuing to discuss with Schering how it can support Ventavis in other European markets. Ventavis is the second product to make use of the technology; Profile has also developed a ProDose formulation of colistin - called ProMixin - which is sold for treating infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
Meanwhile, Profile said earlier today that it has signed a $1 million (€823,000) contract with biotechnology company CoTherix to supply the ProDose system in the US. CoTherix licenses iloprost from Schering in this market. The order is for 300 ProDose devices to support the clinical testing of the product in the US.
Profile is also developing a smaller, handheld version of the nebuliser that should roll out in 2004.