Antares announced the agreement yesterday, under the terms of which the US firm will develop and supply a new disposable pen injector for use with two patient-administered pharmaceutical products.
Although the drugs the new injectors will be used with are currently undisclosed, Antares has estimated a $500m market for each when they hit the market in the second half of 2011 and 2012.
Antares will receive an upfront cash payment from Teva, milestone fees, device sales and high single digit to low double digit royalties on net sales of the combined drug/device product.
Antares will retain the rights to the new injector pen for use with other pharmaceutical and biological products not covered by the agreement.
"These potential new products contribute further confidence to our sales ramp up and royalty growth plans with four new product introductions possible between 2008 through 2012," said Antares CEO Jack Stover, former executive VP and CFO of Sicor, an injectables firm acquired by Teva.
"We also now have a strong competitive entry in a new growth segment of the injectable pen market."
Antares already has a handful of injector products in its portfolio, including the Vibex mini-needle injector and two needle-free injection systems.
The needle-free products are currently marketed for insulin delivery and growth hormone delivery in the treatment of children with short stature.
Among the products Teva currently has in its R&D pipeline is an increased dose version of its successful multiple sclerosis drug, Copaxone (glatiramer acetate).
The 40mg/day dose has the potential to provide improved efficacy compared to currently approved first line treatments, according to the company, and is on track for submission to US regulators in the second half of 2008.