Patheon to manufacture Orexigen weight loss drugs
Long-term partnership to accelerate development of Orexigen products
Orexigen Therapeutics and Patheon have signed a long-term agreement for commercial manufacturing of Orexigen’s weight loss drug Contrave (naltrexone HCL sustained release (SR)/bupropion HCL SR), as well as the development of future formulations of Orexigen products. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Contrave has completed Phase III clinical trials and Orexigen says it plans to file for US FDA approval by the end of April.
The company’s second product, Empatic, has completed Phase II clinical development. Each product candidate is designed to act on a specific group of neurons in the central nervous system with the goal of achieving appetite suppression and sustained weight loss.
‘Patheon’s manufacturing capabilities provide us a proven platform to help ensure successful market entry and stable commercial supply of Contrave in the event it is approved,’ said Mike Narachi, chief executive of Orexigen. ‘This relationship also provides the means to accelerate the development and commercialisation of next generation formulations of Orexigen products.’
‘We have crafted a strategic, long-term partnership predicated on a shared commitment to maximising the potential of Contrave and Empatic and to the mission of addressing the significant health issue of obesity,’ said Wes Wheeler, chief executive of Canadian drugmaker Patheon.
