Merck and PCAS agree Expansorb distribution deal

Merck has signed a new distribution deal for the Expansorb line of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers from PCAS.

The move will see Merck become the exclusive global distributor of the product line, which includes 38 polymers for the sustained release of small molecule and selected peptide injectables, thereby expanding Merck's excipients portfolio.

With the Expansorb products, customers will be able to optimise and precisely control the release kinetics of final drug products, allowing for delivery via a reduced numbers of injections with the same therapeutic efficacy.

The Expansorb PLA and PLGA polymers are manufactured under cGMP conditions by PCAS and will be sold as part of Merck's Emprove programme, once the necessary evaluations and certifications are complete.

Andrew Bulpin, head of process solutions at the life science business of Merck, said: "The addition of the Expansorb polymers to our broad portfolio of excipients improves drug developers' ability to protect molecules with short in vivo half-lives and achieve the desired therapeutic effect, while enhancing patient comfort and compliance."

This comes after the firm expanded the Emprove programme to include new filtration and single-use processing offerings last month.