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| InspiRX's InspiraChamber VHC--Courtesy of InspiRX |
Indian drugmaker Lupin announced two separate developments in its lung drug delivery segment, launching one product in the U.S. and signing a development agreement for a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's ($GSK) Advair Diskus, to be commercialized in North America and other markets.
Mumbai-based Lupin teamed up with InspiRX to launch the New Jersey company's InspiraChamber Anti-Static Valved Holding Chamber, a device designed with children in mind to enhance the delivery of aerosol drugs. The companies didn't release the financial terms of their agreement, but it grants Lupin exclusive rights to promote, distribute and market the InspiraChamber VHC in the U.S.
"We are very excited with the addition of InspiraChamber VHC to our brand business portfolio," Lupin CEO Vinita Gupta said in a statement. "... The launch also heralds Lupin's entry into the larger U.S. inhalation and related markets."
In another move that could bolster the company's future U.S. plans, Lupin inked a pact with Polish company Celon Pharma to develop a fluticasone/salmeterol dry powder inhaler product meant to be a generic version of Glaxo's Advair Diskus, which boasted $7 billion in global sales in the last fiscal year.
The terms of Lupin's and Celon's agreement also remained under wraps. Celon will be supplying the product for Lupin's advance into the U.S., Canada and Mexico, according to a release.
"Our scientific and technical teams look forward to collaborating with Lupin to bring this product to major markets outside of Poland," Celon CEO Maciej Wieczorek said in a statement. "We are enthusiastic and believe that both the companies would work together to complete a time-bound research and development program to ensure successful registration in targeted markets for Lupin to effectively commercialize the product."
- here's the InspiraChamber release (PDF)
- and the release for the Celon partnership (PDF)