Nestlé and Palette in global urological deal
Nestlé Skin Health and Palette Life Sciences have entered into a global licensing agreement intended to improve outcomes for patients with urological and colorectal disorders.
Sweden-headquartered Palette, formerly known as Pharmanest, shared the news on Monday, October 15.
As part of the transaction, Pharmanest—which focuses on developing products for local pain relief in obstetrics and gynaecology—will be renamed Palette.
At the centre of the agreement is Nestlé’s proprietary ‘Nasha’ technology.
Nasha can be injected into the body to form a precise and firm gel texture. It was reportedly the first hydroxyapatite spacer used to protect tissue, such as the rectal wall, during radiation treatment of prostate cancer, in 2007.
The products covered by the agreement are based on the Nasha technology. They are Deflux (dextranomer microspheres), Solesta (dextranomer microspheres, sodium hyaluronate), and Barrigel (hyaluronic acid).
Deflux is the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment of vesicoureteral reflux, a malformation of the urinary bladder which can lead to irreversible kidney damage.
Andrew Kirsch, professor and chief of paediatric urology at Emory University School of Medicine and director of robotic surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said: “I have used endoscopic injection of Deflux for decades and I am enthusiastic about the new ownership’s commitment to education and research within our sub-speciality surrounding Deflux.”
Meanwhile, Solesta is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment for bowel incontinence, while Barrigel is a biodegradable injectable treatment which protects the rectal wall when patients are having radiation to treat prostate cancer.
Palette is also currently developing a gynaecological pain relief called Lidbree.
The deal gives Palette the exclusive worldwide commercialisation and development rights for the drugs, while Nestlé Skin Health will continue to manufacture the licensed products.
The licensing agreement can also cover future products intended to treat urological and gastroenterological conditions, or to protect adjacent healthy organs and tissue during radiation therapy for cancer.
Mattias Klintemar, a lead investor in Palette, said: “We are very pleased with the transaction with Nestlé Skin Health. It represents a first and significant step in the development of a global medical device company with significant commercial assets in several underserved medical conditions."
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