Intellectual property
Vectura protects its products and technologies, patents, trademarks, design rights and confidential know-how. The intellectual property (IP) portfolio comprises about 135 families with patents in the key territories of the US, Japan and the main European member states. Vectura vigorously maintains and protects its intellectual property estate.
Out-licensing IP
Additional value is obtained from Vectura’s intellectual property estate by licensing its technologies for the development of non-pulmonary products. For example, Baxter uses Vectura’s protein stabilisation technology in ADVATE®, a serum-free formulation of Factor VIII used in the treatment of haemophilia, from which Vectura receives a royalty stream from product sales.
Products in development by partners using Vectura’s technologies
Boehringer Ingelheim is developing Vectura’s dry powder inhaler for use with its inhaled pharmaceuticals for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Vectura received an initial payment of €5 million and a €10 million equity investment and will receive development milestone and royalty payments based upon the successful development and commercialisation of any future products using its technology.
ProFibrix BV, a biotechnology company based in the Netherlands, is using Vectura’s spray-drying technology and formulation expertise to develop Fibrocaps®, a mixture of fibrinogen and thrombin in a unique powder formulation that stops acute and severe bleeding after trauma or elective surgery.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has a licence to use Vectura’s formulation and delivery patents for the development of DNA vaccines delivered onto, into and across the skin. PowderMed Limited (owned by Pfizer) has taken a sub-licence from GSK to use these licensed patents in certain fields. Vectura will receive development milestone and royalty payments based upon the successful development and commercialisation of any future products.
