The Unifill ready-to-fill (prefilled) syringe is a primary drug container with passive safety features fully integrated within the glass barrel.
Under the agreement, Unilife has licensed Unifill syringe to Sanofi within full therapeutic classes of antithrombotic agents and vaccines, including an additional four smaller sub-groups, till 30 June 2014.
In return, Sanofi has paid around $40m including $16m fee for receiving the rights to negotiate the purchase of Unifill syringe and to help fund the Industrialization Program for the device up to a maximum of $24m.
Unilife COO Ramin Mojdeh said the integration of safety features within the glass barrel of a prefilled syringe was a challenge that many within the device and pharmaceutical industries thought to be impossible.
"We have successfully overcome a number of technical obstacles to commercialize a game-changing device that is now poised to revolutionize the $2.7 billion market for prefilled syringes," Mojdeh said.