Archimedes Pharma enters partnership with Almac Discovery to develop product to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

16-Jun-2009 - United Kingdom

Archimedes Pharma Limited announced that its development organisation, Archimedes Development Limited has signed a global licensing and development agreement with Almac Discovery Limited to develop a novel intranasal granisetron product. This product, which uses Archimedes’ proprietary ChiSys delivery technology, has completed pre-clinical proof-of-principle studies demonstrating that it should provide a rapidly acting, well tolerated and convenient treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Acute CINV typically occurs within minutes or hours of drug administration and can last for up to 24 hours. Delayed CINV typically develops 24 hours after administration and can last up to seven days. 5-HT3 antagonists like granisetron are often first choice therapies but have to be given orally or via injection on an acute basis, or as preventative medicine via a patch or injection for delayed CINV. Patients suffering from severe CINV or intractable vomiting are often unable to tolerate oral medication and injections are not favoured by many patients. Nasal delivery of granisetron offers the possibility of rapid relief from CINV with minimal complications and may be particularly suitable in situations where CINV cannot be anticipated by the patient.

Under the terms of the agreement, Archimedes will be responsible for developing the formulation through to phase II and will cooperate with Almac Discovery and Galen (a related company of the Almac Group focused on sales and marketing) on clinical development of the product. Archimedes will receive a series of milestones and royalties as the product progresses through development to launch.

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