DENMARK —Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specializing in diabetes care, has joined forces with Aspect Biosystems to develop bioprinted tissue therapeutics for diabetes and obesity.
The partnership allows Novo Nordisk to use Aspect’s advanced bioprinting technology to develop up to four products that aim to treat diabetes and obesity.
In exchange for the license, Aspect will receive an initial payment of US$75 million, comprising an upfront payment, research funding, and an investment in the form of a convertible note.
Additionally, Aspect could potentially earn up to US$650 million per product, based on specific targets achieved, and receive tiered royalties on product sales.
The companies said the partnership will use Aspect’s proprietary bioprinting technology and Novo’s expertise in stem cell differentiation and cell therapy development and manufacturing.
The first area of focus will be the development of implantable bioprinted tissues to maintain normal blood glucose levels without requiring immunosuppression.
Such a transformative treatment could have far-reaching implications for people living with type 1 diabetes.
By leveraging Aspect’s expertise in bioprinting technology, Novo Nordisk hopes to develop transformative treatments that will make a significant impact on the lives of people living with diabetes and obesity.
The collaboration will utilize Aspect’s proprietary bioprinting technology, which aims to allow the development of a new class of cell-based drugs that are biologically functional and immune-protective, and suitable for surgical implantation.
According to the companies, Aspect’s technology could help in the development of encapsulated tissues that are immune-protective and biologically functional.
The two firms will focus on the development of bioprinted tissue therapies that could replace, repair, or supplement biological functions.
Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug was recommended by the European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee earlier this month for use in adolescents aged 12 years and older with obesity and a minimum weight of 60kg.
The positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) comes after the recent approval of semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, in the EU for adults who are either obese or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition.
These approvals come at a crucial time as obesity rates continue to rise, with the Health Survey for England 2021 estimating that 25.9% of adults in England are obese and a further 37.9% are overweight.
The UK government has estimated that the current costs of obesity in the UK are £6.1bn (US$7.1 bn) to the NHS and £27bn (US$ 33.65bn) to wider society.
Novo Nordisk’s type 2 diabetes medicine, Ozempic, contains Semaglutide, which works by reducing blood sugar levels.
It does this by increasing the release of insulin from the pancreas when blood sugar is high, slowing the release of sugar from the liver, and slowing the process of food leaving the stomach after eating.
Novo Nordisk has also announced that it will be significantly lowering the list prices of several of its insulin products in the US, starting from January 2024.
The reduction includes a 75% reduction to the list price of its NovoLog insulin and a 65% reduction for Novolin and Levemir.
In addition, the company has also stated that it will reduce the list price of unbranded biologics to match the lowered price of each respective branded insulin.
The rising cost of insulin has been a concern for many patients, despite it being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), around 8.4 million of the 37 million people in the US with diabetes use insulin.
Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly are the main insulin manufacturers in the US and have come under recent fire over the pricing of their products.
To address this issue, Sanofi has announced a 78% reduction to the US list price of its most widely prescribed insulin, Lantus, with a US$35 price cap for those with commercial insurance. These changes will also come into effect in January 2024.
Eli Lilly announced earlier this month that it would be lowering the US prices of its most commonly prescribed insulins, Humalog and Humulin, by 70%.
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