partners
MicroDose collaborates with top-tier companies for the creation of industry leading products
MDT seeks out opportunities to work with strategic partners to create, develop, and market innovative products that meet unmet medical needs and can benefit from its revolutionary drug delivery technologies.
Some examples of MDT’s existing partnerships are described below:
Merck & Co., Inc.
Nexus6
Novartis
US Dept. of Defense
Vectura
Merck & Co., Inc.
In 2008, MDT entered into a global license agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. for use of MDT’s dry powder inhaler (DPI) with Merck & Co., Inc.’s proprietary compounds. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck & Co., Inc. will fund development and commercialization of products that employ MDT’s DPI technology. MDT received an upfront payment upon signing of the agreement and is now eligible for milestone payments totaling $32 million for successful development of the first product as well as royalties on product revenues. The first of these milestones, marked by the administration of the first dose to the first person in a Phase 1 Clinical Trial, has been met and was announced in August 2008.
Nexus6
In January 2009, MDT entered into a collaboration with Nexus6 to investigate the application of their SmartinhalerLive™ technology with the MDT DPI. Under the terms of the agreement, MDT will fund the development of prototype inhalers to demonstrate the ability to wirelessly upload dosing and compliance information from the inhaler to a web-based server for data management and reporting. This capability will facilitate real-time patient compliance tracking both during clinical trials and potentially with in-market products, with the promise of improving adherence and outcomes.
Novartis
In 2006, MDT entered into a multi-product development and licensing agreement with Novartis for use of MDT’s dry powder inhaler with Novartis’ proprietary respiratory products. Under the terms of the agreement, including an initial payment, MDT could receive up to $125 million in milestones for the successful development of the first five products. In addition, Novartis will pay MDT development costs and royalties on product sales, and will fund development, manufacturing and marketing for all products.
U.S. Department of Defense
MDT, under its subsidiary MicroDose Defense Products, LLC, is developing a novel inhaled atropine delivery system to enable rapid systemic and pulmonary delivery of atropine sulfate as an antidote against nerve gas poisoning for the U.S. Department of Defense and for Homeland Security applications. Atropine sulphate is a specific antidote for the treatment of poisoning from organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides and organophosphorus nerve agents. Preclinical work has been completed and an IND filed and open in anticipation of a Phase 1 study to be conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Vectura
MDT is developing a rapidly acting inhaled insulin product for the treatment of diabetes in a joint venture with Vectura Group plc, called QDose Limited. QDose was formed in 1999 and is equally owned by MDT and Vectura. In 2003, QDose entered into a license, collaboration, and development agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) for the exclusive rights to the product and funded its development until 2005 when it returned the rights to QDose. The product has successfully completed two Phase 1 studies, the latter a glucose clamp study, and QDose is seeking license partners.