The Hindu Business Line : Biocon ties up with US co for nasal insulin spray

BIOCON Ltd has tied up with US-based Bentley Pharmaceuticals for co-development of an intra-nasal insulin spray. It will also supply the drug for the product and take up joint regional marketing of the same..

Bioconis currently working on an oral insulin tablet — IN 105. The foray into a spray form makes the Rs 728-crore Biocon the only company in the world to be pursuing two forms of painless or non-injectable insulin. The product licence pact reportedly gives Biocon marketing rights in 85 countries of Asia and Africa.

Biocon's Chairperson and Managing Director, Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, told Business Line that the project was already in Phase II trials.

Its clinical research subsidiary, Clinigene, and other centres would be involved in the later stages of trials.

"Both (the oral insulin — which Biocon is co-developing with Nobex — and the intra-nasal insulin spray) are at least 3-4 years away from market entry," she said.

The company, which entered the Rs 220-crore domestic human insulin market over a year ago, also supplies to Bristol-Meyers Squibb on a nine-year arrangement. "Intra-nasal insulin will certainly have a good market opportunity. The Bentley opportunity is also important as it gives us marketing rights to many international markets," Ms Mazumdar-Shaw said.

"Non-injectable insulin will drive the future of insulin therapy. We are progressing both on oral insulin development and now with intra-nasal insulin," she said.

Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis have joined hands for the inhaler version Exubera. Delivered through the lungs, Exubera is close to entering the market and is being evaluated in the US. Another insulin giant, Eli Lilly, is working with Alkermes to come out with a similar product. The Biocon-Bentley product will be delivered through the nasal mucosal linings.

Bentley works on proprietary drug delivery systems, including transdermal, intra-nasal (mucosal), oral, ocular, and sublingual, among others. The two have signed a long-term agreement, by which Biocon will supply the API (the key or active pharmaceutical ingredient) to Bentley and its licensees.

Asked about additional capacities and investments required, Ms Mazumdar-Shaw said, "We have adequate R&D facilities. We will, however, have to expand insulin manufacture as the new insulins enter Phase III trials. Marketing efforts will also be ramped up."

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