DEP the path to money?, page-3

Here is how it goes with the DFP internal candidates:

SPL has said it will not take the trials to Phase 3, but will licence the drugs off after Phase 2. Clearly the amount of money they get is dependent on the results.

We already know that side effects have been substantially reduced, and some of these are life threatening. If the efficacy of the drugs is as good as or better then the originals then we have a win, better efficacy could mean a major win. A large pharmaceutical manufacturer will licence the patent and conduct further trials, with a view to submitting for approval (probably to the FDA). SPL will receive a largish amount of money when the licence is signed, then further milestone payments and a royalty on sales.

The DEP drugs are potentially valuable for several reasons apart from their reduced toxicity. Because they are much more soluble than the originals they are easier and quicker to use. Instead of an in hospital infusion via a drip over several hours they can conceivably be given by simple injection. A major reduction in treatment cost as a result.

So the first hurdle is to find a pharmaceutical company which wants them. Sanofi Aventis (French) developed both Docetaxel and Cabazitaxel, has all the clinical data and could conceivably apply for approval without conducting further trials, based on its own data and SPL trials.

Irinotecan was developed in Japan and is perhaps the most exciting of the DEP drugs. The DEP version does not require treatment via the liver, and this is a big advantage because the drug can damage the liver. This is perhaps the most valuable of the three, if it works!