A generic version of an existing inhaled combination therapy for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be developed in the United States under an agreement between Vectura Group subsidiary Jagotec and Sandoz. The therapy will use a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI).

Under the terms of the exclusive development and license agreement, the generic, VR2081, will be clinically developed, manufactured, and commercialized by Sandoz, while Vectura will be in charge of the development of the formulation and manufacture of clinical batches for use in pilot studies.

Vectura will receive a $5 million initial payment from Sandoz, with the possibility of an additional equal amount upon achievement of certain predetermined milestones. It is expected that the initial $5 million milestone is recognized in revenues already in 2017 and 2018.

Vectura is a company developing devices and formulations for inhaled airways products, offering a unique drug delivery platform.

“Following the merger of Vectura and Skyepharma last summer, we announced that we were prioritising three to five generic projects utilising the Group’s newly combined pMDI and DPI device platforms. This programme represents the first partnered collaboration of this series of projects and offers substantial potential for future value creation,” James Ward-Lilley, chief executive officer of Vectura, said in a press release.

In August 2014, Vectura announced another agreement with an undisclosed partner for the development of VR506 as an asthma monotherapy. This agreement involved a partner that had already been involved in the development of VR315, another combination therapy for asthma and COPD.

VR315 is a combination of salmeterol, a long-acting adrenergic receptor beta-2 agonist (LABA), and fluticasone, an inhaled corticosteroid. VR506 is an inhaled corticosteroid treatment indicated only for the treatment of asthma.

In January 2015, Vectura signed an international development and licensing agreement with Janssen Biotech also covering an exclusive development of novel anti-inflammatory therapies for asthma and COPD.

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