MonoSol Rx, APR expand film formulation development collaboration

Jun 10 2010

MonoSol Rx, the developer of PharmFilm^® technology and a drug delivery company specializing in proprietary pharmaceutical film products, and APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. ("APR") announced today an expansion of their relationship to identify and develop film formulations of prescription drug products beyond ondansetron and donepezil to include zolmitriptan. Zolmitriptan is currently commercially available for the acute treatment of migraine headache in adults, and facing initial patent expirations in 2012.

"MonoSol Rx and APR truly understand the value that PharmFilm^® offers throughout the pharmaceutical industry," said A. Mark Schobel, president and chief executive officer of MonoSol Rx. "Given our shared expertise, the expansion of this collaboration creates a unique opportunity to broaden the development reach for prescription film products. We look forward to leveraging the capabilities and skills of our partner APR as well as the unique attributes of our PharmFilm^® technology to advance several drug targets for film delivery."

MonoSol Rx, along with APR and its partner Labtec GmbH, previously collaborated to develop, commercialize and market ondansetron and donepezil in film. APR, headquartered in Switzerland, is a research and development company focused on the development and licensing of value-added, innovative, selected drug candidates using proprietary and innovative oral and topical delivery systems.

Paolo Galfetti, CEO of APR, remarked, "MonoSol Rx is the clear global leader in pharmaceutical film. We are excited to work together to leverage this drug delivery system to create benefits for patients, physicians and caregivers. Several near-term opportunities exist to transition currently approved drugs to film formulations as a means to improve compliance, differentiation and marketability."