Novo Nordisk and Merrion enter agreement

Novo Nordisk and Merrion have announced a license agreement that is set to see a joint development and commercialisation of oral formulation of insulin analogues.

Using Merrion’s proprietary Gipet technology, Novo Nordisk will also receive up to £58 million (38.4 million pounds) for the first product developed in the collaboration.

The agreement will see Novo Nordisk responsible and paying for the running and commercialisation of the items, with the other half of the partnership controlling the advancement and manufacture of the initial batches.

John Lynch, chief executive officer of Merrion, said: “This partnership with Novo Nordisk is important ? in many ways.”

“It brings Merrion’s exciting technology for the oral administration of biopharmaceuticals together with Novo Nordisk ? a leader in peptide/protein based drugs.”

The agreement is also set to provide the ability to develop additional oral formulations of insulin compounds using proprietary absorption enhancing Gipet technology.

Merrion will be due additional payments for any extra products developed under the collaboration.

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk has international production facilities in six countries, with affiliates of offices in 80.

The company employs more than 26,553 people, of which 3,709 are in North America, 1,047 are in Japan and Oceania and 3,473 are in Europe.