The collaboration combines the peptide production capabilities of Biocon with the proprietary oral peptide delivery technology of Nobex.
The company’s plan to advance the oral human brain-type natriuretic peptide (hBNP) programme towards an investigational new drug filing with the FDA in 2007 and clinical trials beginning later that year.
Administration of hBNP by continuous infusion was approved by the FDA in August 2001 for the treatment of acute congestive heart failure (CHF) in the hospital care setting. The intent of an oral hBNP would be to have a product available for chronic use, rather than only for acute use for a number of potential indications, including early-stage heart failure patients.
“Biocon is excited at the opportunity to partner with Nobex on such an important product opportunity. By co-developing a therapeutic product such as oral hBNP of substantial clinical and market value in treating heart failure and other potential cardiovascular indications, we are taking another step towards our innovative product development stategy,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon.