Sanofi-aventis purchases diabetes drug delivery technology

Sanofi-aventis has agreed a deal with Ascendis Pharma to purchase the rights to new drug delivery technology for use among diabetes patients.

The firms have signed a global licensing and patent transfer agreement that will allow Sanofi-aventis to utilise and commercialise Ascendis' proprietary TransCon Linker and Hydrogel carrier system.

This new technology allows drug compounds to be released into the body in a time-controlled, strictly regulated and tailored fashion, thereby providing long-acting effects.

Preclinical studies have already been conducted showing the potential efficacy of this system when delivering insulin, with Sanofi-aventis now planning to combine the technology with active molecules in diabetes and related disorders.

Pierre Chancel, senior vice-president and head of the global diabetes division at Sanofi-aventis, said: "We hope to further improve the lives of people with diabetes by developing this innovative technology to offer biologicals that present an extended and controlled release of unmodified parent drugs, including insulin."

Earlier this month, Sanofi-aventis agreed a new partnership with Avila Therapeutics, which will focus on the development of covalent cancer therapies.