MannKind and Rose Pharma have announced a collaboration agreement that gives Rose a worldwide license for development of its ROSE-010 rapid-acting GLP-1 as an inhaled therapy for weight loss using MannKind’s Technosphere dry powder technology. MannKind will provide formulation and other services through Phase 1b development. In return, MannKind gets equity interest in Rose and potential royalties on future sales. Financial details were not revealed.
The announcement notes the companies have previously investigated the feasibility of formulating ROSE-010 using the Technosphere platform. The next stage of the partnership “will focus on formulation re-establishment and optimization, followed by nonclinical and regulatory-enabling development,” the companies said.
Earlier this year, MannKind announced that it would develop a ralinepag DPI for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in partnership with United Therapeutics. The company’s pipeline also currently includes a nintedanib DPI for the treatment of IPF and PPF and a bumetanide DPI for the treatment of edema caused by heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
MannKind CEO Michael Castagna commented, “ROSE-010 represents a compelling opportunity to apply Technosphere technology in weight management, one of the most dynamic areas of healthcare. We believe our integrated capabilities across inhaled formulation, product development, manufacturing and regulatory execution can help reduce technical and execution risk, providing a more efficient path to advance this differentiated program and further demonstrate the versatility of the Technosphere platform.”
Rose Pharma CEO Enda Kenny said, “There remains a significant unmet need not only to help patients maintain weight loss, but also to reach treatment-naïve individuals who may be hesitant to begin currently available GLP-1 therapies. An inhaled therapy with a rapid-acting, short-duration profile could provide patients with greater flexibility and a new way to approach weight management. ROSE-010 Technosphere also has potential application in irritable bowel syndrome, where there is significant unmet medical need for pain relief. MannKind’s extensive expertise in pulmonary drug delivery, formulation development and manufacturing makes the company an ideal partner to advance this differentiated program.”
Read the MannKind and Rose Pharma press release
