OctoPlus tries to get drug-delivery tentacles into generics

OctoPlus, a drug-delivery company based in the Netherlands, is actively looking for partnerships with specialty manufacturers of generic drugs, which OctoPlus believes can benefit from its controlled-release technology. In-PharmaTechnologist reports that OctoPlus sees an extra source of revenue coming from generics that lack the expertise to enter specialty markets.

"Our team has identified a number of high-value opportunities in specialty generics, where we can co-invest and leverage our world-class expertise in formulation development," said Jan Egberts, CEO of OctoPlus, in a news release.

The company's second-quarter results saw increased revenue from drug-delivery technologies, partially offset by a drop in earnings due to support for Locteron, a controlled-release version of interferon. Locteron is undergoing trials to treat hepatitis C. It's based on OctoPlus's PolyActive drug-delivery technology, whose biggest selling points include its biodegradability and low initial release.

PolyActive is one of three drug delivery technologies developed by OctoPlus. The company also boasts of OctoDEX--dextran-based microsphere delivery technology for proteins and particulate systems--and a biodegradable polymeric drug delivery system for the controlled release of peptides and small molecules.

- see the story in In-PharmaTechnologist