The US firm has signed a $10m (€7m) agreement with Varilease Finance that will “support continued sales and marketing of the Unifill syringe to current and additional pharmaceutical customers, as well as to fast-track the commercialization of other exciting new pipeline products” said CEO Alan Shortall.
He added that Unilife is confident in the continued supply and sale of the Unifill syringe to current and new pharmaceutical customers several of which have expressed interest in securing special access to the tech and other pipeline devices the firm is developing.
"We also expect to receive revenues relating to the development and sale of other pipeline products that are scheduled for use in the clinical drug trials of our pharmaceutical customers over the coming year,” Shortall continued.
This optimism was echoed in a press statement issued by Varilease VP Jacob Dinsdale, who described the Unifill platform as “an exciting commercial opportunity for Unilife. We look forward to supporting the continued business expansion of Unilife, and building a strong long-term relationship with them."
New licensees
News of the finance agreement follows just a few months after Unilife’s invested in additional manufacturing capacity at its facility York, Pennsylvania.
The focus on sales and marketing is also in keeping with the strategy Unilife outlined earlier this summer when it said it would aim to maximize its commercial opportunities and seek additional licensees for its prefilled syringe technology.
Unilife has sought to find new licensees for its range of delivery technologies after receiving its last milestone payment from French drug giant Sanofi in May under a non-exclusive agreement the firm’s signed in 2010.
And, the syringe maker appears to be making some progress in this regard. Last month it announced that one of its technologies will be used in a clinical trial, but did not provide details of the tech or the company involved.