CSL ties up with Enable Injections to market biologic delivery device

Enable's wearable bolus injector--Courtesy of Enable

Plasma protein specialist CSL Behring has tied the knot with Ohio devicemaker Enable Injections to use Enable's technology for the delivery of treatments for chronic diseases. The development agreement will give CSL access to market the device.

CSL, which makes therapies for chronic conditions such as hemophilia, immune deficiencies and emphysema, as well as critical care drugs for shock, sepsis and burns, derives its products from human plasma or equivalents thereof. Because of the viscosity and volume of the plasma needed to treat these conditions, it takes a specific kind of delivery device to make it work.

Enter Enable, which has developed a wearable bolus injector that allows the subcutaneous injection of biological drugs. The system incorporates a closure for a vial, syringe or cartridge that automatically mixes the solutions, warming the drug so that the patient doesn't have to wait for a refrigerated mixture to be ready for injection. The patient places the device on his or her skin and presses a button. The device has a viewing window to show the injection's progress, a "pause" feature and an automatically retracting needle.

"People with chronic diseases have to routinely manage their condition," Enable CEO Mike Hooven said in a statement. "Our innovative drug delivery system makes administering a life-long treatment easier and much more convenient. We are thrilled to partner with a scientific leader like CSL Behring to, upon regulatory approvals, bring this device to patients in the rare disease community who may benefit from our innovative drug delivery system."

The terms of the partnership have not been disclosed, except for CSL's exclusive use of the product and Enable's receipt of an upfront payment with milestone and royalty payments over the next several years.

"Through our collaboration with Enable Injections," CSL Executive Vice President Bob Repella said, "we hope to bring patients a delivery option that makes administration of their therapy easier, helps improve treatment compliance and offers them greater freedom and flexibility to treat their condition in a way that fits their individual needs."

- here's the release