The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved a version of UCB’s autoimmune disease drug Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) Autoclicks this year.
On Tuesday, the Belgian drug company announced the product would be available on the NHS.
Steve Ellul commercial director of Bespak, which developed the delivery technology, told us that NHS availability is positive news for the firm.
“Gaining approval in a major market is an important validation of any technology and provides the confidence and reassurance that the device meets all the important safety and reliability criteria that must be satisfied to bring a product to market.”
He added that: “The Cimzia Autoclicks product is approved, although not yet marketed, in EU markets beyond the UK” adding that Bespak is unable to provide further details of launch plans for the product.
Other markets
UCB's license to Bespak’s ASI autoinjector is not exclusive, and products employing the technology are already available in a number of markets.
In the US it is used to deliver Dr. Reddy’s version of the migraine treatment sumatriptan.
Ellul said: “Autoclicks uses a Bespak proprietary technology and, subject to certain contractual obligations, can be broadly licensed to other companies for a wide range of products” adding that the firm is on other auto-injector development projects with a range of clients.