Cadila and Arecor team to develop longer-acting insulin glargine
UK-based biotech Arecor Ltd’s R&D and licensing agreement with the Indian pharmaceutical firm looks to take Cadila’s already approved insulin glargine product and develop a superior and affordable thermostable ultra-long acting, in-Pharmatechnologist.com was told.
“Development of the proprietary product is being undertaken by Arecor within its laboratories in Cambridge UK, utilising its proprietary formulation technology platform to deliver this superior basal insulin product profile,” CEO Sarah Howell said.
“At a pre-defined stage within development and under license, Cadila will undertake full clinical development and commercialisation of this proprietary product in India. The license is royalty bearing and Arecor retains rights to develop and commercialise in all territories outside of India.”
Arestat platform
Arecor’s Arestat formulation technology platform will be used to improve the thermostability and duration of action of Cadila’s molecule to create full daily basal insulin coverage from a once daily injection.
“The platform consists of a broad range of formulation approaches that are based on unique combinations of excipients to control physical and chemical instability,” said Howell.
It also includes “a broad number of patented formulation technologies as well as know-how and trade secrets that enables Arecor to deliver biopharmaceutical target product profiles that are simply not achievable utilising conventional formulation science.”
Arecor itself is using the platform to develop its own portfolio of products aimed at improving treatments for diabetes care through reformulation of approved proteins and peptides.
In February, the firm was awarded a £1.05m grant from the British government funded innovation agency Innovate UK to advance a proprietary stable liquid glucagon product towards proof-of-concept Phase I clinical trials.
