Under the terms of the agreement, FMC will apply its technology to Pronova BioPharma’s products while Pronova BioPharma will be responsible for the clinical development and for securing regulatory approval. Pronova BioPharma plans to initiate clinical trials in early 2009 and launch of the new capsule is anticipated in 2010/2011.
The proprietary alginate-based capsule technology is expected to significantly strengthen the product life-cycle management of Pronova BioPharma’s products and has the potential for use both with the company’s current active pharmaceutical ingredient, marketed as Omacor in Europe and Lovaza in the US, as well as in future products under development.
Tomas Settevik, CEO of Pronova BioPharma, said: “The new alginate capsule technology has the potential to deliver significant benefits for patients, as well as creating important patent life-extensions for Omacor or Lovaza and other products under development in our pipeline.”