Finding the right partner really is crux. We really need someone who is incentivised to make this the biggest drug of the era. They will be the face of this drug, not Bene and not Paradigm. They will manage price increases, and the drug will need their legal protection when patents are challenged.
In my mind the partner needs to be a big one, but not too big that we relinquish all control over the drugs future. Our deal needs to enshrine an ongoing role for PAR because being approved for current treatments like OA/BMEL and at current dosages is really just the tip of the iceberg in my opinion. There is far far more to come and PAR (our in-house research expertise, plus through our research colab with Bene) are best positioned to break new ground with this drug.
I honestly believe PAR will still have a huge ongoing role beyond simply providing the partner with access to Zilosul and receiving royalty cheques. Informed by studies, this drug has a future for joint pain well beyond those diagnosed with OA, or presenting BMEL. As a prophylactic, Zilolsul will one day protect cartilage of athletes (amateur and professional), people who have endured joint injury or surgery, or simply people who's lifestyle or circumstances place them at any risk of developing joint stress (nurses, police, servicepeople etc) - and none of these people may have OA or BMEL whatsoever. One glimpse of this noted by others is that 1.5-2mg/kg twice weekly appears to produce best results for pain and function. However, when it comes to DM/cartilage protection, there was an apparently illogical outcome that the once-weekly cohort produced stronger results. People have treated this as an automatic negative, but why? Further study might be required to confirm - but what if this means there is simply one optimum dose for people diagnosed with higher stages of OA/BMEL for whom pain and function is the major symptom which requires resolution.....and then another optimum dose (once weekly?) for people who want to access the cartilage-protective qualities of Zilosul 'to slow the progression of the disease' in the non-OA/BMEL cohort of our eventual TAM? They may not have issues with pain and function, but they sure would like to slow the onset of any future problems.
There are many many doors still to open to fully-unlock this drug, and PAR are well placed to be in the midst of it's development for a long time to come, in the joint pain space and of course well beyond. IF we find the right partner and strike the right deal, of course
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