Recipharm invests in prostate cancer drug and delivery tech firm LIDDS
Recipharm will make LIDDS’ drug candidate Liproca Depot - a modified-release formulation of 2-hydroxyflutamide – for clinical trials according to EVP Development & Technology Carl-Johan Spak, who also told us production will be carried out at its facility in Solna, Sweden.
The compound 2-hydroxyflutamide is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the generic drug flutamide – which has been used to treat prostate cancer in combination with hormone therapy since the mid 70s.
One difference with LIDD’S formulation is that it is prepared as a paste with the carrier material calcium sulphate.
But the main distinction is that the paste is delivered using a pre-filled syringe - for which LIDDS owns intellectual property rights - that mixes the formulation prior to injection.
Advantages and investment
LIDDS claims the approach is better than current treatments because it causes fewer injection site effects and – as the paste can be visualised using ultrasound - can be delivered more accurately.
As part of the deal – which has been under negotiation since April – Recipharm has invested SEK5m ($500,000) in LIDDS, making it the firm#s third biggest backer.
Spak told us Recipharm's investment was motivated in part by the delivery technology, explaining that: “We are confident that the technology can be used for other indications.”
He added that: “We certainly hope that LIDDS will continue to find us to be a perfect partner so that we can assist new customers with development of products based on LIDDS proprietary technology.”
Liproca Depot is currently being examined in a Phase II trial in Sweden and Finland according to a record on Clinicaltrials.gov.
