The sufentanil patch, which is in early-stage clinical development, employs Durect’s proprietary Transdur drug-adhesive matrix formulation and is intended to provide relief of moderate-to-severe chronic pain for up to seven days.
Under the terms of the agreement, Endo will pay Durect an upfront fee of $10 million, with additional payments of approximately $35 million upon achievement of predetermined regulatory and commercial milestones. Endo will also pay undisclosed royalties to Durect on net sales of the sufentanil transdermal patch.
“We feel that Durect’s sufentanil patch could offer physicians and patients significant benefits over currently marketed products,” said Peter Lankau, president and COO of Endo. “The product’s weeklong duration combined with its reduced size (about 20% of the size of the on-market transdermal fentanyl patches but with a therapeutically equivalent dose) may offer improved patient convenience and compliance.”