Unilife to use Depot-ject delivery system with approved ocular injection drug

The identity of the pharmaceutical company and its target therapy, which is approved in the U.S and Europe for the treatment of a high prevalence disease of the retina, will remain confidential at this time to protect the commercial interests of the customer.

The customer has entered into this arrangement to support the lifecycle management of this approved therapy, which is administered via intravitreal injection into the eye. Unilife anticipates the commercial availability of Depot-ject with this therapy after a 12 to 24 month process of customization and regulatory approval for the drug-device combination.

Compared to conventional practices, Depot-ject is designed to allow a clinician to precisely deliver the therapy into the eye through an injection to help protect a drug depot.

Unilife will begin to generate revenue from the customer program this quarter via an upfront fee and customization payments. Unilife has granted the customer exclusive access to Depot-ject for use with the target drug in the relevant therapeutic area.

Mr. Alan Shortall, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unilife said: "Unilife has created a broad portfolio of ocular delivery systems to enhance the intravitreal injection of ophthalmic therapies. The safety, simplicity and convenience of our Depot-ject delivery system has significant potential to improve patient care in the delivery of sustained release drug depots, and allow customers to further differentiate their brands of therapy from current or future competition. We are pleased to have signed our first commercial supply agreement within this fast-growing market segment, and look forward to supporting the customer in the rapid conversion of its approved therapy into our Depot-ject delivery system."