BioProgress licensing agreement with Wyeth

Wyeth has signed an agreement with BioProgress to license its Xgel Swallow liquid fill capsule technology for certain specified product fields.

The agreement provides for an upfront payment of a six figure sum on execution providing Wyeth with an exclusive opportunity to evaluate the technology and negotiate terms of a technology licensing agreement, machine supply agreement and the film supply agreement within the fields. Francis Sullivan, spokesperson for Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, said: 'We believe BioProgress has developed some interesting technology. We are entering into this agreement to secure an exclusive position to enable a full detailed evaluation of the opportunity.'

It is intended that BioProgress through Harro Hoefliger will provide liquid fill Xgel machines and BioProgress will supply film for the machines from its newly acquired film production facility in Tampa, Fl, US, and from its UK film production facility when that comes on-line. BioProgress will also receive a licence fee within any exclusively licensed product field which uses the liquid dosage form.

Graham Hind, chief executive officer of BioProgress, said: 'This is a significant agreement for BioProgress as it involves another of our new dosage form technologies with a major US pharmaceutical customer.

'Xgel Swallow liquid fill capsule technology has unique properties which makes it a very attractive delivery platform for pharmaceutical manufacturers. We believe this technology has the potential to be the preferred alternative to current liquid fill systems.