RDT inks deals to push oral film tech to COVID-19 vaccine firms

Rapid Dose Therapeutics (RDT) has laid the groundwork for an attempt to woo COVID-19 vaccine developers, inking agreements intended to accelerate the development and commercialization of its QuickStripVax orally dissolvable film.

The agreements see Oakland Health, operating as RD Therapeutics, take a 5% stake in a newly created RDT subsidiary that will be granted the exclusive worldwide license to sell products derived from the IP behind the QuickStripVax. In return for the stake and a 2.5% royalty rate, RD Therapeutics will work to “maximize and accelerate the development of the QuickStripVax leading to commercialization.”

Canada-based RDT is pitching QuickStripVax as a way to enable vaccination campaigns in parts of the world that lack cold-chain capabilities and medical resources. The technology consists of a film-forming agent that is combined with the active ingredient. By embedding the active molecule in the delivery matrix, RDT aims to create strips for placing under the tongue or in other parts of the mouth. The strip dissolves to release the active ingredient across the tissue and into the bloodstream.

RDT is yet to build a sustainable business around the technology, making a loss from operations of CA$3 million ($2.3 million) on CA$914,000 of sales over the first nine months of its financial year. Mark Upsdell, CEO of RDT, is looking to the new U.K. partners to help drive sales growth. 

“Our U.K. partners, including Ailene Thiel and Diane Moss, bring valuable relationships with business leaders, pharmaceutical executives and governments in the United Kingdom and the European Union, which will be paramount to supporting rapid development and expansion of our needle-free vaccine delivery platform,” Upsdell said. 

Thiel is CEO of RD Therapeutics. RDT’s relationship with Thiel predates the vaccine agreements. Late last year, RDT entered into an agreement to supply QuickStrip to RD Therapeutics. The initial order covered products in the lifestyle, health and wellness sectors.