Pharmaxis Ltd (ASX:PXS) has entered a research collaboration with Sydney’s prestigious Woolcock Institute of Medical Research to develop a novel inhalation therapy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
A research grant of $421,545 has also been awarded for development and testing of the Orbital Inhaler with a dry powder formulation of the antibiotic tobramycin.
The Orbital inhaler is a Pharmaxis invention which has been designed to deliver high‐doses of dry powder drugs to the lungs in a more effective and convenient manner than existing technology.
Gary Phillips, CEO, commented: “This research will bring together the acknowledged expertise of the Woolcock Institute and Pharmaxis in the field of cystic fibrosis.
“We are pleased the National Health and Medical Research Council is supporting this research which we believe has potential to see Australian innovation translated into a commercial product ready for late stage clinical trials and partnering.”
Orbital inhaler
A Phase 1 clinical trial conducted by Pharmaxis has shown the Orbital can administer large amounts of dry powder to healthy subjects in one inhalation without compromising safety or tolerability.
The compact device is capable of housing up to 400 milligrams of powder for inhalation within a specially designed dosing chamber and delivers sequential doses to the patient with a simple one touch deployment.
Pharmaxis has previously developed Bronchitol® an inhaled dry powder for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
The product is approved and marketed in Europe, Russia and Australia and a third large multicentre clinical trial is currently underway aiming to secure approval in the U.S.
Background
Pharmaxis is a pharmaceutical research company with a portfolio including two respiratory products, Bronchitol and Aridol, approved and sold in various world markets.
During September, Pharmaxis achieved a major milestone by gaining the approval for marketing of its drug Bronchitol® in Russia, the largest market accessed to date for the drug.
It also has a research pipeline focused on areas of high unmet clinical need in inflammatory and fibrotic diseases founded on its expertise in the chemistry of amine oxidase inhibitors.
This expertise has attracted interest from leading pharmaceutical companies looking to make acquisitions or partner in this rapidly expanding area of medical need.
In May 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim acquired the Pharmaxis phase 1 investigational drug PXS-4728A.
This involved an upfront payment of €27.5 million and a total potential deal value of over A$750 million.
Boehringer is due to pay another milestone when they commence a phase 2 trial expected in 2017.