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PARI and Kamada Collaborate to Develop
Inhaled Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, November 20, 2006 –
PARI and Kamada Ltd. (TASE:KMDA) have signed a
strategic Collaboration Agreement to develop
Kamada’s Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) liquid drug
candidate for inhalation through PARI’s eFlow
for the treatment of patients suffering from
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency.
AAT, also known as Alpha-1 Proteinase Inhibitor
(API), is used for chronic replacement therapy
in individuals who lack AAT and have an
inherited form of panacinar emphysema. Lack of
AAT leads to various health problems, including
significant reduction in lung function, lung
inflammation, shortness of breath, and recurrent
exacerbations. This leads to emphysema, which is
marked by damage to the walls of the air sacs in
the lungs resulting in inefficient breathing and
shortness of breath.
AAT is currently used for replacement therapy in
the form of weekly intravenous infusion that
distributes the medication throughout the
bloodstream in order to reach the lungs. An
inhaled treatment would offer a more targeted
therapy by delivering medication directly to the
lungs.
“We are excited to extend our collaboration for
the long term with Kamada, the leading producer
of a highly purified, ready-to-use, injectable
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin, to develop Kamada’s AAT as
an inhaled treatment for congenital emphysema,”
said Dr. Martin Knoch, Managing Director of PARI.
“We believe this could be a substantial
improvement for patients and a perfect example
where eFlow can contribute to a more efficient
and convenient therapy.”
“Because PARI’s eFlow is such an advanced
nebulizer in terms of speed, efficiency, and
portability, we believe this collaboration will
also have positive economical advantages for
patients and healthcare organizations, as much
less overall drug is needed for treatments
delivered via eFlow,” stated David Tsur, CEO of
Kamada. “Our partnership with PARI is good for
patients and positive for both companies.”
The inhaled AAT was designated, both in Europe
and in the USA, as an orphan drug for the
treatment of congenital emphysema and cystic
fibrosis. Therefore, should PARI and Kamada be
the first to successfully complete the clinical
trials and obtain the regulatory authorities’
approval, they will be entitled to the rights
and enjoy the benefits ancillary to the orphan
drug status, including exclusive marketing
rights (7 years in the USA and 10 years in
Europe), research funds support, tax benefits
for research purposes and reduced fees to the
FDA and the EMEA.
Phase I clinical development of the Inhaled API
delivered via eFlow is planned to start
immediately.
About eFlow
eFlow, an electronic, portable nebulizer,
enables extremely efficient aerosolization of
liquid medications via a vibrating, perforated
membrane. Compared to other nebulizer systems,
eFlow can produce aerosols with a very high
density of active drug, a precisely defined
droplet size, and a high proportion of
respirable droplets delivered in the shortest
possible period of time. Combined with its
silent mode of operation, small size (it fits in
the palm of your hand), light weight, and
battery use, eFlow helps reduce the burden of
taking daily inhaled treatments.
For additional information please see
www.paripharma.com.
About Kamada
Kamada is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in
development, production, and marketing of high
quality, ready to use, plasma therapeutics.
Kamada’s product line includes, in addition to
AAT, specific and general immune globulins, and
other plasma-derived products which are
manufactured using sophisticated chromatographic
purification technology. Kamada, Ltd. is based
at Kiryat Weizmann Sciene Park, Ness Ziona,
Israel.
For additional information, please visit,
www.kamada.com or contact David Tsur
+972-8-940-6472.
About PARI
PARI is a leading worldwide developer and
manufacturer of fast and efficient aerosol
delivery systems for patients with asthma,
chronic lung disease, and cystic fibrosis.
PARI's primary focus is to provide patients with
innovative products and services that help
control disease. PARI is headquartered in
Starnberg, Germany, with a major presence in the
United States and offices in Japan, United
Kingdom, and China.
Additional information on eFlow is available by
contacting Kirsten Ayars at 805-452-7909 or
Geoff Hunziker at 831-372-3580. |