Drugmaker Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement with Spain's Cyndea Pharma SL to exclusively use its technology for developing generic, soft‐gelatin capsule formulations for certain pharmaceutical products.

The agreement covers the development, licence, manufacture and commercial supply of these capsules.

“As many as 70 per cent of small molecule pharmaceuticals are difficult for the body to absorb, which leads to challenges in developing effective oral formulations for these medicines,” Robert Matsuk, Glenmark's President North America (Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), said in a statement.

“Because of these challenges, the use of soft‐gelatin capsules have wide applications to improve absorption and bioavailability of these medicines. Accessing this formulation and manufacturing technology with our strategic partner Cyndea will support Glenmark’s continued mission of providing important and cost‐effective generic medicines to patients,” he added.

Glenmark will now have the exclusive rights to the United States and Canada markets for these soft‐gelatin formulations in exchange for sharing development costs and profits from future sales. In addition, the agreement provides for the companies to add further soft‐gelatin product candidates for development and commercialisation, as new branded, soft-gelatin, capsule‐based drug products become available in the marketplace.

“Glenmark is an ideal partner to expand our soft‐gelatin technology into much needed therapeutic categories and markets,” Gonzalo Ballesteros, Managing Director of Cyndea, said.

“Cyndea has made significant financial investments in both its new Madrid‐based research and development facility and state‐of‐the‐art production facility located in Soria, Spain. Cyndea is a global, market‐leading supplier of generic, prescription, soft‐gelatin capsules in the world and our partnership with Glenmark provides expanded access into North America,” he added.

jyothi.datta@thehindu.co.in

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