Novavax and Cardinal Health restructure estrogen therapy deal

Under the new agreement, Novavax will manufacture Estrasorb, a topical emulsion for estrogen therapy, and Cardinal Health will be responsible for the fill-finish operation that prepares Estrasorb in patient packaging. The new facility and packaging agreement will reduce Novavax’s manufacturing costs for Estrasorb.

“This transaction strengthens our existing relationship with Cardinal Health and delivers value to both parties,” said Dr Rahul Singhvi, senior vice-president and COO of Novavax. “Novavax will benefit immediately from lower manufacturing costs for Estrasorb, thus improving our profit margin. The new agreement positions Estrasorb as a much more valuable asset for Novavax, as well as, for a future Estrasorb partner.”

Estrasorb, which utilizes a formulation developed by Novavax, is approved for short-term use to reduce ‘hot flashes’ in menopausal women. The treatment employs Novavax’ proprietary micellar nanoparticle (MNP) drug delivery technology platform, which utilizes oil and water nanoemulsions to encapsulate and deliver a naturally occurring hormone into the bloodstream when applied to the skin.