News | September 30, 1998

Delsys' Controlled-Release Receives $3 Million Boost from Elan

Delsys Pharmaceutical Corp. (Princeton, NJ), which specializes in pharmaceutical formulation development, manufacturing, and drug delivery, has received a $3 million equity investment from an affiliate of Elan Corp., plc (Dublin, Ireland).

Delsys's Accudep technology allows precise control over placement and doses of active ingredients.

The new equity investment follows Delsys' recent announcement of a collaboration with Elan, Delsys' first in the area of controlled-release product technology, through which the two firms plan to develop and commercialize a portfolio of proprietary products combining Delsys' novel Accudep technology with Elan's proprietary controlled-release technologies.

Elan's multiparticulate tablet formulation (IPTAS).

In addition to its partnership with Elan, Delsys has recently entered into collaborations with Warner-Lambert, SmithKline Beecham, and Glaxo Wellcome. As announced on September 14, Delsys has also raised $14.5 million in a private placement.

Marriage of Technologies

Delsys's Accudep technology is primarily a manufacturing technology for controlling the amount of drug within a formulation through electrostatic deposition. As such Accudep replaces traditional mixing, blending, granulation, drying, lubrication, compression, and coating.

Accudep could improve manufacture of Elan's controlled release formulations (SODAS).

Since it allows precise placement of active ingredients, both in terms of dosage and physical location, Accudep is ideally suited for controlled-release pharmaceuticals (a specialty of Elan's).

Elan's controlled-release technologies include:

  • SODAS—Multiparticulate dosage forms using controlled release beads.
  • INDAS—For increasing the solubility of poorly soluble drugs.
  • IPDAS—Multiparticulate tablet formulation using high-density controlled release beads and an immediate release granulate.
  • MODAS—Controlled release single unit dosage form consisting of an inner core surrounded by an semi-permeable multiporous membrane
  • EFVDAS—Effervescent Drug Absorption System
  • PRODAS—A family of multiparticulate formulations using combinations of immediate release and controlled release minitablets
  • DUREDAS—Bilayer tablet formulation providing dual release rates within the one dosage form.
  • PHARMAZOME—Microparticles for producing controlled release and taste masked preparations such as liquids, suspensions, effervescent, chewable, and fast melt tablets.
  • BEODAS—Bioerodable micro/nano particles used as a technology platform in the development of oral protein and peptide formulations.
  • MIDAS—Bioerodable micro/nano particles specifically designed for depot injection preparations.
  • PASSIVE—Passive transdermal formulations
  • PANODERM—Iontophoretic patch designed to enhance transdermal delivery
  • MEDIPAD—A lightweight, disposable, user friendly "pump in patch" system for subcutaneous delivery

    For more information: Martyn Greenacre, President & CEO, Delsys Pharmaceutical Corp., 201 Washington Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel: 609-720-0033.

    By Angelo DePalma