Recipharm invests in prostate cancer drug and delivery tech firm LIDDS

Recipharm has invested in delivery tech firm and prostate cancer drug developer LIDDS as part of manufacturing contract.

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.