Hovione TwinCaps inhaler filed in Japan
Hovione licensee Daiichi Sankyo Company has filed a New Drug Application in Japan for the influenza drug CS-8958, which is delivered using Hovione\'s TwinCaps inhaler
Hovione's licensee Daiichi Sankyo Company has filed a New Drug Application in Japan for the influenza drug CS-8958, which is delivered using Hovione's TwinCaps inhaler.
CS-8958 is a laninamivir prodrug, a long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor developed as an inhaled drug by Daiichi Sankyo for the Japanese market. Clinical studies performed with adults and children suffering from type A or B influenza viruses have proven that the delivery of CS-8958 by TwinCaps is effective with a single treatment course. Daiichi Sankyo has started a Phase III clinical trial to demonstrate efficacy in influenza prevention.
Hovione of Portugal has licensed its inhalation device patents to Daiichi Sankyo and Biota Holdings of Victoria, Australia and collaborated on the formulation development.
Patents for TwinCaps were filed worldwide in 2006 and have already been issued in Japan, South Africa and Portugal.
"This filing follows four years of great collaboration between Daiichi Sankyo and Hovione and we are very honoured to be part of this project," said Peter Villax, Hovione vice president in charge of the TwinCaps development.
