Under the agreement, Hospira's contract manufacturing services will provide Durect's clinical and commercial supplies of Posidur on a worldwide basis. The two parties have begun manufacturing development activities in accordance with the agreement.
“Hospira's capabilities, expertise and capacity in manufacturing parenteral products makes them an ideal partner for us, and the establishment of this agreement, following on the heels of our recent development and commercialization collaboration with Nycomed,” said James Brown, CEO of Durect.
In November 2006, Durect and Nycomed signed a $202 million agreement to develop and commercialize Posidur in Europe and other select countries. Posidur is currently in phase II clinical development. Durect and Nycomed anticipate moving the program into phase III in 2007.