German-based Bayer has selected Finnish drug development company DelSiTech as its technology partner for ophthalmology drug delivery.
The companies have signed a collaboration and technology licence agreement, under which DelSiTech’s Silica Matrix drug delivery platform will be used for Bayer’s compounds in ophthalmology.
As per the agreement, DelSiTech will receive a number of undisclosed milestone payments after successful completion of different stages of drug development.
The company will also be entitled to receive milestone payments and royalties gained by the commercialisation and sale of the products.
Bayer will bear all development and commercialisation expense incurred during the collaborative project.
Bayer pharmaceuticals division executive committee member and drug discovery head professor Andreas Busch said: “Successful ocular drug delivery is one of the biggest challenges in developing novel drug therapies for ophthalmic diseases.
“This agreement will support our work on innovative treatment options for a range of different eye diseases.
“This partnership with DelSiTech underlines Bayer’s continued commitment to leverage collaborations on cutting edge science in ophthalmology with the aim to improve the quality of life for patients.”
DelSiTech Silica Matrix has been developed as an aqueous solution by the polymerisation of alkoxysilanes, Si(OR)4, using a technique called the sol-gel process.
It is also porous and contains different OH groups and water.
