Under the terms of the collaboration, Nektar will be responsible for formulation of the dry powder and development of the inhalation system, as well as clinical and commercial manufacturing of the drug formulation and device combination.
Bayer will be responsible for the clinical development and worldwide commercialization of the system. Nektar will receive funding for preclinical development, milestone payments, and royalty payments when the product is commercialized.
“This is an exciting new R&D partnership,” said Dr Horst Fischer, Bayer HealthCare’s global project leader for ciprofloxacin (Cipro). “Nektar’s pulmonary technology offers clear benefits to treating the lungs via inhalation with a novel form of Cipro. We aim to provide cystic fibrosis patients with a new and convenient therapy for the management of P. aeruginosa infections to improve the standard of care.”
P. aeruginosa is the most common pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis with the vast majority becoming chronically colonized with this organism, resulting in repeated cycles of lung inflammation and consequent deterioration in lung function.
Cipro is a potent anti-pseudomonal quinolone antibiotic that is currently available in oral and intravenous (IV) formulations and has been successfully used in the management of acute exacerbation of P. aeruginosa infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.