New OTC deal in the frame for BioProgress?
deal for a liquid fill technology with the consumer healthcare
division of US drug major Wyeth. If taken to fruition, the
agreement would mark the company's second partnership in the
over-the-counter (OTC) drug sector.
Wyeth is evaluating BioProgress' XGEL SWALLOW liquid fill capsule technology for certain specified product fields. The SWALLOW system makes use of a single, compact machine that is claimed to improve on the lengthy, multi-step manufacturing process required for gelatin soft capsules. Wyeth is thought to be the first commercial partner for this technology.
In March, BioProgress signed an agreement for its TABWRAP tablet coating technology with an unnamed company that will use it for OTC applications. Both SWALLOW and TABWRAP are based on BioProgress' animal-free cellulose film technology.
The option agreement provides for an upfront payment of an unspecified six-figure sum on execution. Wyeth will evaluate the technology and, if its deliberations are positive, can negotiate terms of a technology license and machine/film supply agreement.
It is intended that BioProgress - through its machinery partner Harro Hoefliger - will provide liquid fill XGEL machines and BioProgress will supply film for the machines from its newly acquired film production facility in Florida, US, and from its UK film production facility when that comes on-line.
Graham Hind, BioProgress' chief executive, said that the company is positioning SWALLOW as a preferred alternative to current liquid fill systems, helped by the fact that its use of a single, compact machine is an improvement over the lengthy, multistep manufacturing process required for gelatin.
With most of the capital-intensive infrastructure eliminated, SWALLOW makes it easier for companies to adopt in-house production. And as capacity requirements increase, more self-contained systems can simply be added, claims the UK company.
SWALLOW capsules can be produced in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and thickness, and can be modified to meet specific customer and product requirements for dissolution.
