Newbury Pharmaceuticals signs strategic agreement for treatment of short bowel syndrome in the Nordics and strengthens the strategic focus on rare diseases
Newbury Pharmaceuticals is pleased to announce the agreement of an exclusive license to commercialize its own brand of Teduglutide 5mg pre-filled syringe in the Nordics. Newbury plans to be the First-to-File and First-to-Market of this highly complex peptide injectable product following patent expiry. The portfolio addition brings a unique opportunity to help more people suffering from short bowel syndrome access this innovative treatment.
Teduglutide is a medicine for treating short bowel syndrome (or short gut) in adults. Due to the low number of patients with the condition, the disease is considered rare, and Teduglutide was designated an orphan medicine (a medicine used in rare diseases) on December 11, 2001. The active substance, teduglutide, is similar to the human glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), a hormone made in the gut that increases absorption of nutrients from the intestine. Teduglutide works in a similar way to GLP-2 and increases intestinal absorption by increasing blood flow to and from the gut, reducing the speed at which food passes through and reducing acid secretions in the stomach which can interfere with absorption in the intestine[1]. Teduglutide is today sold under the brand name Revestive® by Takeda.
Short bowel syndrome is a complex disease that occurs due to the physical loss or the loss of function of a portion of the small and/or large intestine. Consequently, individuals with short bowel syndrome often have a reduced ability to absorb nutrients such as fats, carbohydrates (sugars) vitamins, minerals, trace elements and fluids (malabsorption). The specific symptoms and severity of short bowel syndrome vary from one person to another[2].
“We see a huge potential for Teduglutide and we will work closely with the different stakeholders in our markets to make this medicine available for the patients. There is a high, unmet medical need and we have not yet seen the full potential of this treatment in our markets”, says Lars Minor - CEO, Newbury Pharmaceuticals.
To Newbury, this is a significant milestone in the expansion of the portfolio. This high asset rare disease medicine further strengthens the ambition to have a positive impact in society with products and technologies that contribute to the overall health care system and patient well-being.
References:
[1] Revestive | European Medicines Agency (europa.eu)
[2] Short Bowel Syndrome - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) (rarediseases.org)
