French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis has bought the rights to a diabetes drug-delivery technology from Ascendis, an American and Danish pharmaceutical company. Sanofi says in a news release that the technology showed "promising results" with insulin in early tests.
Ascendis' technology, which it calls TransCon Linker, allows for precise, time-controlled, long-acting delivery of medication. It does this by creating transient bonds between larger molecules such as proteins and peptides, including insulin, and a carrier. The bonds allow for tailor-made release, according to the company, with no initial bursts.
Under the agreement, Sanofi will get the license to develop, manufacture and commercialize the technology in combination with active molecules for diabetes. Ascendis will receive an undisclosed upfront payment along with milestones.
- Bloomberg has the story
- and so does Dow Jones
- read the Sanofi press release