Vectura has all the capabilities required to develop inhaled pharmaceuticals starting with an active pharmaceutical ingredient, through to proof-of-principle, including formulation, development of pre-clinical data and the management of clinical studies. In parallel, powder production, device concept and design, filling and pilot production (plus industrial manufacture with expert partners). Vectura's partnerships range from the complete development of an inhaled pharmaceutical product, to licensing its devices or formulation technologies that will be used by its partner for the development of their own drugs.
Some examples of Vectura's existing partnerships can be seen below:
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
In 2010, Vectura signed a worldwide non-exclusive agreement to license certain of its dry powder drug formulation patents in relation to two late stage development compounds in GSK’s respiratory product pipeline. Under the terms of the agreement, Vectura received an up-front milestone payment and will earn milestone payments and royalties on product sales.
Sandoz
Vectura licensed the European rights to VR315 to Sandoz in March 2006, in a deal worth up to €22.5m in milestones and development funding together with royalties on all products sold. Vectura has received milestone payments under the licensing deal with the next milestone due on product approval.
In August 2011, Vectura licensed the RoW rights to the same company in a deal where Vectura will receive a royalty on net sales and a margin on the commercial manufacture and supply of the dry powder inhaler device used to deliver VR315. Vectura is also eligible for milestones and advance pre-launch royalties worth up to €8m.
In addition, Vectura licensed the European rights to VR632 to Sandoz in December 2007 in a deal worth up to €15.5m in milestones and development funding together with royalties on all products sold. Vectura will also earn a margin on the commercial manufacture and supply of GyroHaler® devices. Sandoz has made significant investment in manufacturing facilities for both VR315 and VR632.
Novartis
In April 2005 Vectura and Arakis Ltd (now part of Sosei Group Corporation) signed a $375 million global licence agreement for NVA237 with Novartis. Vectura and Arakis each received an initial payment of $15 million and continue to receive further payments as clinical, regulatory and commercialisation milestones are successfully achieved; to date, Novartis has made payments totalling $30m to Vectura. In addition, royalties will be paid on any future product sales. Novartis is now developing NVA237 as a monotherapy and also in combination with Onbrez® Breezhaler® (indacaterol) as QVA149, both for the treatment of COPD. Novartis expects to launch NVA237 and QVA149 in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
In 2003, an exclusive licence was entered into with Otsuka for the rights to market its asthma treatment, Meptin® (procaterol) in the Clickhaler®. Otsuka undertook its successful clinical development and received marketing approval for Meptin in Japan in 2005. This event triggered a milestone payment and a further payment when Meptin was launched. Vectura supplies Otsuka with the device on commercial terms.
ProFibrix BV
ProFibrix, a biotechnology company based in the Netherlands, is using Vectura's dry powder technology and formulation expertise to develop Fibrocaps®, a mixture of fibrinogen and thrombin in a unique dry powder formulation that stops acute and severe bleeding after trauma or elective surgery.
Sosei Group Corporation / Arakis Ltd
In 2000, Vectura and Arakis Ltd (now part of Sosei Group Corporation) signed a collaboration agreement for NVA237 to treat COPD. The companies jointly funded development with a strategy to share future commercial returns. In 2004, they announced the successful completion of a Phase IIa trial and in 2005 signed an agreement with Novartis.
Baxter
In 2000, Baxter was granted exclusive and non-exclusive worldwide rights to use Vectura's protein stabilisation patents and has used the technology in its serum-free recombinant Factor VIII, ADVATE® which is marketed by Baxter worldwide. Vectura receives royalties on sales of ADVATE®.
Recipharm
Asmasal® and Asmabec® Clickhaler products have been marketed since 1997. Asmasal® contains salbutamol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist for the quick relief of asthma symptoms, and Asmabec® contains beclometasone, an inhaled steroid used as standard preventative therapy for asthma. Asmasal® and Asmabec® are marketed by Recipharm in UK, France and Ireland.