Inyx to develop HFA asthma spray for European markets
New York-based speciality pharmaceutical and drug delivery technology company Inyx has been awarded a multi-year contract by AstraZeneca to assist in the development and production of a non-ozone depleting hydrofluoralkane (HFA) version of AZ's Pulmicort asthma spray for European markets.
New York-based speciality pharmaceutical and drug delivery technology company Inyx has been awarded a multi-year contract by AstraZeneca to assist in the development and production of a non-ozone depleting hydrofluoralkane (HFA) version of AZ's Pulmicort asthma spray for European markets.
Currently, Pulmicort uses CFC as an aerosol gas propellant, which is an ozone-depleting agent. The EU has implemented a ban on ozone-depleting agents such as CFC in pharmaceutical products.
The contract will run initially for three and a half years with options to extend, and is valued at more than US $6.5m annually to Inyx, based on present sales of the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) version of Pulmicort contract. Inyx's wholly owned UK subsidiary, INyX Pharma Ltd, will immediately commence development and commercialisation work on the HFA version of Pulmicort. Subject to regulatory approval in European markets, commercial production is planned to start in the first quarter of 2005.
'This contract reflects Inyx's expertise in converting CFC aerosol pharmaceuticals to HFA drug delivery products, as we have already conducted such conversion for other clients in Europe and Canada,' said Dr Jack Kachkar, chairman and president of Inyx. 'The selection by AstraZeneca is a significant milestone event for Inyx.'