The purchase will see the Swedish company acquire the Aerospan inhaler as part of the deal with US development company Acton who could receive an additional milestone payment of $10m, as well as further royalties based on Meda's minimum target sales of SEK 2bn ($303m) in the next five years.
The product is unique in the administration of asthma API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) Flunisolide, according to Paula Treutiger who told in-Pharmatechnologist.com it is the only approved inhaler in the US to have an integrated spacer.
A spacer makes it easier to ensure more of the active ingredient is inhaled during administration, especially for children and the elderly, she continued, adding that while normally a spacer is attached to an inhaler, the Aerospan has one built in though remains “ more or less the same size” as other inhalers.
Another advantage of the Aerospan, Treutiger added, is that there is no significant negative impact on linear growth in children with asthma.
In the US, Aerospan is set to be launched in early 2014, following approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2012. Treutiger also said Meda was planning to launch the inhaler outside of the US market.
To prepare for the launch, supply of the product has been secured it was confirmed, however Treuitiger was unable to tell us who would be making it at this stage.
The proprietary drug delivery device fits in with Meda’s current respiratory range, which includes Dymista – an anti-allergy nasal spray – that was approved in the US in May 2012 and launched September 2012. In Europe it was launched in January 2013.
Dymista is manufactured by Indian firm Cipla, as part of a partnership with Meda.