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| The DosePro needle-free delivery device--courtesy of Zogenix |
San Diego's Zogenix ($ZGNX) has taken another step in expanding its DosePro needle-free delivery system, signing a co-promotion agreement with Mallinckrodt, the pharma division of Covidien ($COV).
Under the deal, Mallinckrodt will begin selling Sumavel DosePro, a needle-free formulation of the migraine drug sumatriptan, to its customer base of prescribers. While the two companies didn't disclose specific terms, Mallinckrodt will get a quarterly service fee based on net sales of the treatment, and the agreement runs through 2014, with an optional extension thereafter.
Zogenix believes the partnership will help spur sales of the on-the-market treatment, which will only help the company expand the use of its delivery platform, CEO Roger Hawley said in a statement. "Adding Mallinckrodt's large sales force to the efforts of our 95 sales representatives will double our reach to prescribers of migraine products and significantly expand our sales coverage for Sumavel DosePro within the primary care market," he said.
The agreement comes on the heels of Zogenix filing a new drug application with the FDA for Relday, a once-monthly schizophrenia treatment delivered transdermally with DosePro. The company has been bullish in its efforts to expand the platform, and it has a deal with Battelle to market DosePro to other drug developers around the world.
Covidien is planning to spin off its pharmaceutical unit next year. Mark Trudeau, the company's pharma president, said the Zogenix deal will help Mallinckrodt prepare for the move by expanding its pain management portfolio, which includes Exalgo, Pennsaid and bulk acetaminophen.
- read the Zogenix's announcement
- check out Mallickrodt's statement