OctoPlus Grants SurModics Access to Two Biodegradable Polymer Families for Medical Device Applications
Leiden. OctoPlus, a drug delivery and development company, announced that it has granted SurModics, Inc., a leading provider of surface modification and drug delivery solutions to the medical device industry, an option to acquire an exclusive license to two novel classes of biodegradable polymers for use in the site specific delivery of drugs from medical devices. The agreement is an important step for OctoPlus to accelerate the proliferation of its proprietary polymer platforms, through SurModics, in the development of drug eluting medical devices, for example, drug eluting stents. It complements OctoPlus' internal focus on development of controlled release formulations for the pharmaceutical industry.
Biodegradable polymers have the ability to be combined with one or more drugs and applied to a medical device, yet are naturally degraded by the body over time. The two polymer families covered under this agreement are PolyActive(tm) and OctoDEX(tm), which are currently under pre-clinical and clinical evaluation by OctoPlus for use as pharmaceutical drug delivery products.
PolyActive(tm) is a biodegradable multiblock polymeric drug delivery system based on two well-known polymers. Its biodegradability, extensive safety record and tunable release properties make it an excellent choice for the controlled release of proteins and hydrophobic small molecule drugs. In particular, PolyActive(tm) has been used in thousands of patients as part of two FDA approved products, and has an existing FDA Master File.
OctoDEX(tm) is a delivery system for the controlled release of proteins and large particles such as liposomes and antigens and is based on cross-linked dextran microspheres. OctoPlus recently reported successful completion of Phase I studies for a sustained release formulation of human growth hormone based on OctoDEX(tm).
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