Almirall inks deal with startup Bicosome for its skin delivery technology

Spanish pharmaceutical and dermatology player Almirall has reached a research and licensing deal with Bicosome to use the startup’s skin delivery technology to develop several topical dermatological products. 

Bicosome, which is based in Barcelona, was formed in 2012 as a spinoff company of the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia. The company’s technology centers on a platform for topical delivery of drugs that solves skin penetration limitations, which has been a challenge for skin care formulations, the company said.

Under terms of the deal, Bicosome will handle research to deliver preclinical product prototypes and Almirall will be responsible for the clinical development, regulatory filings, manufacturing and commercialization of the developed products. 

Almirall also gets a sublicense to develop and commercialize products for certain dermatological indications in exchange for research payments to Bicosome and additional payments based on milestones and royalties based on sales benchmarks.

“(The) Bicosome platform provides multiple benefits in the treatment of the skin, boosting both efficacy and safety of products,” Lucyanna Barbosa, Bicosome’s CEO, said in a statement. 

The agreement falls in line with Almirall’s strategy to become a top global dermatology player after announcing in November 2014 that it sold its respiratory franchise to AstraZeneca. Just this past November, Almirall snapped up 100% of the share capital of Poli Group, another player in the derma sector.

-here’s the release

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