Allergan licensed global rights to Israel’s UroGen Pharma's RTGel delivery system technology for use with its neurotoxin. According to UroGen, its sustained-release, hydrogel-based RTGel formulation has thermo-sensitive properties that enable it to convert from a liquid state when cold, into a gel once it reaches body temperature, allowing for "increased residence time" of drugs when mixed with the gel and instilled in the bladder.
As part of the agreement, Allergan will make an upfront payment of $17.5 million to UroGen, which is also eligible to receive potential development and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on net sales.
Allergan sees this technology as adding value to treat overactive bladder by combining the technology with Allergan’s Botox and this could offer the potential of therapeutic advancements for patients suffering from overactive bladders and related conditions. Botox was approved by FDA for overactive bladder in 2013.
In addition to the deal with Allergan, UroGen is developing its own pipeline. This is led by an uro-oncology Phase III clinical trial of MitoGel, a formulation of the chemotherapy agent mitomycin C, for the treatment of upper-tract urothelial carcinoma.
In addition Ocular Therapeutix Inc. licensed its hydrogel technology to Regeneron to develop a sustained-release formulation of its ophthalmic brand Eylea (aflibercept). Their objective is to create a product that could be given every 3 months or twice a year rather than the current every two months.