Cheers, jaybay - you are quite right, I should be more conscious of the fact that most here are not newbies and when responding to another who is well researched, like Pman, it's not neccessarily a good habit to accomodate the wider audience
You'll never see an, "I told you so" on these threads from me though, jaybay... 2010 was my prediction for OBJ's first licensing deal :) ___
I'll try to add something a little more thought provoking here. If a major Pharma of FMCG company successfully completed an early evaluation study with OBJ, and moving forward then decided to spin-out a new start-up company with finance backing to continue collaborating with OBJ, how might this option be more beneficial to the Big Pharma or FMCG company?
28 September 2006 - Annual Report "During the reporting period the Company conducted its first human clinical trial. This was the most significant event for the Company to date. It involved the integration of all the drug research and hardware developments into a program designed to confirm that Dermaportation and the active drug delivery systems translated effectively into clinical benefits in humans. The program will be expanded to a much larger and internationally based research program and news regarding the program will emerge in the future." ___
10 October 2006 - Launch of Macroflux Corporation "Macroflux Corporation has raised $75 million in an equity financing to create a new transdermal drug development company.
Originally a group within ALZA Corporation, The Macroflux Corporation spin-out is being led by Nomura Phase4 Ventures, a specialist investor in healthcare. The syndicate includes significant investments from New Enterprise Associates and funds managed by HBM Partners. The$75M financing will enable the company to progress several product opportunities through clinical development. ALZA Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, will retain an equity stake in the venture." ___
23 November 2006 "OBJ Limited is pleased to announce the development of what is believed to be the first power-less active drug patch technology.
Traditional drug patches, such as those used in smoking cessation and hormone replacement, use a drug and adhesive matrix that relies on the slow migration of drug molecules from the matrix into the skin. This has restricted the commercial use of drug patches to simple molecules and low dose applications. In spite of the limited number of drugs that are suitable for such delivery, the transdermal drug patch market is expected to reach US$4.5 billion over the next 6 years. A change in the underlying capabilities of drug patch technology would be expected to impact significantly on this market.
"OBJ’s technology is low cost, and can be incorporated into reusable drug patches, disposable single use drug patches and in a range of packaging systems for OTC and retail use." Announces Power-Less Active Drug Patch ___
09 January 2007 - Former Alza Executive Director to Advise OBJ "OBJ Limited is pleased to announce that Dr Ravi Kiron PhD, MBA, one of the authorities on drug delivery licensing and technology evaluation and former- Executive Director of ALZA Corporation, a division of the $200 billion US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, will advise OBJ on a consultancy basis to assist the growth of its transdermal drug delivery products and licensing business.
Dr Ravi Kiron is an experienced pharmaceutical industry scientist and strategic analyst with a broad background in such areas as: drug discovery, drug delivery, pre-clinical and early clinical drug development, project management, intellectual property, external technology investments, licensing, competitive & business intelligence, M&A, due diligence and integration. Dr Kiron has also worked on pharmaceutical and consumer product and technology development in the Oral, Transdermal and Emerging delivery technologies; 505b(2) and specialty pharma space.
Until recently, Dr Kiron was an Executive Director at ALZA Corporation where he was responsible for New Technology Assessment, Strategic Planning and Intellectual Property for the various ALZA delivery technologies supporting the Johnson & Johnson pipeline of compounds. ALZA has more than 30 products marketed in over 80 countries worldwide.
Dr Kiron’s department brought in external complementary and innovative technologies to enhance ALZA’s own internal R&D delivery efforts." ___
27 September 2007 - Macroflux Announces Name Change to Zosano Pharma, Inc. "Our name change reflects the positive evolutionary steps the company is taking to advance our innovative transdermal microprojection delivery system technology," said M. Cory Zwerling, CEO and president of Zosano Pharma.
Zosano's Macroflux(R) transdermal microprojection delivery system provides unique benefits including convenient needle-free administration with room temperature stability for various therapeutic peptides, proteins, small molecules and vaccines.
Zosano is also exploring other product opportunities for use with this delivery system. Based on demonstrated experience in prior clinical programs, the company is pursuing many therapeutic areas, as well as partnering opportunities with other proprietary compounds.
Zosano Pharma was founded in October, 2006. The company secured a significant financial commitment of $90 million from four venture companies to advance this drug delivery technology and has established a formidable intellectual property (IP) position in this arena." ___
15 November 2007 - Zosano Pharma, Inc. Announces Funding Close Totaling $90 Million "Zosano Pharma, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing better pharmaceutical products using innovative drug delivery, has announced the receipt of the second half of its initial venture funding of $45 million, for a total investment of $90 million.” ___
November 2010 - Zosano Pharma - Presentation
* The innovator in transdermal microneedle patch delivery technology * Lead product: ZP-PTH for the treatment of severe osteoporosis * Created in Q4 2006 as a spinout from Johnson & Johnson/ALZA * ALZA largely regarded as world’s leading drug delivery company * ALZA significant expertise in drug-delivery combinations * Considerable investment made before and after spinout * Partner and pipeline projects include proteins, MAbs and vaccines * Supported by 19 patent families. IP protection extended thru 2025
Transdermal Drug-Coated Microneedle Delivery System: Value Statement
- Ideal solution for delivery of large and small hydrophilic drugs - Single step therapeutic drug delivery - High patient acceptance, user friendly, and travel friendly - Cost effective, alternative to outpatient injection
Additional benefits: * Ready-to-use drug-coated patch with reusable low cost applicator * No product refrigeration required * Short patch wear time (<1hr); Rapid drug delivery * Band-Aid like patch removal and disposal
Convenience Storage -Patch Packaging Maintains Room Temperature Product Stability - Does Not Require Refrigeration
- Heat-sealed foil pouch or cup provides moisture and oxygen barrier - Nitrogen purge displaces oxygen from head space - Desiccant absorbs any residual moisture in components or head space
ZP-Patch Technology Experience
Clinical Proof of Concept Established * 12 clinical studies: 5 peptides and a vaccine * >450 subjects tested * Drugs that fit well with technology: hydrophilic, MW up to 150kDa and 3mg patch dose
ZP-PTH moving to Phase 3 * Clear outcome from Ph2 and validates the technology platform for follow on products * ZP-EPO and ZP-G-CSF programs advancing
Partner Programs ongoing – * Fast tracking a Ph3 Mab for a major Pharma * Project with a leading Vaccine Pharma company
There's not much to speculate on here, however imho it's still quite encouraging to also learn that Zosano signed its first JDA agreement last October to a subsidiary of a very large Japanese company which also included a licensing fee of $32.5m. This Joint Development we can assume has nothing to do with OBJ, nor does it involve beauty care, but it's still encouraging to see this space heating up, imo. ___
This one's for you jaybay...
26 June 2006 - OBJ's Technology Enhances Follicle Drug Delivery The study into follicle delivery was part of a larger research program headed by Professor Michael Roberts and Dr Sheree Cross into the specific effects of Dermaportation on various aspects of drug formulations and applications. The research into transfollicular delivery fits well with the company’s current product development programs which include wrist-watch styled delivery solutions, reusable patches for drugs such as local anaesthetics and multi-compound delivery solutions for the cosmetic, sporting and pain relief applications.
Who is Dr Sheree Cross?
Biography "Sheree completed her undergraduate training in pharmacology at the University of Portsmouth in the UK and followed with a PhD in the area of wound healing and scar contracture, sponsored by Glaxo Group Research, at the University of Bradford in Yorkshire, UK" __________
(20min delay)