Conor Medsystems licenses pimecrolimus from Novartis for use in drug-eluting stents

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., March 16 - Conor Medsystems, Inc. exercised its option to obtain a worldwide, non-exclusive license from Novartis Pharma AG to pimecrolimus for use with Conor's controlled vascular drug-delivery technologies.

Pimecrolimus is a cell-selective inhibitor of the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, according to a company news release.

Under the agreement, Conor is responsible for product development, including clinical trials, manufacturing and regulatory filings. Additionally, Conor will pay Novartis licensing fees, milestone payments and royalties on product sales.

Novartis will supply Conor with pimecrolimus and will collaborate with Conor on the regulatory and technical issues.

Other details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Conor said it expects to begin a clinical trial this year evaluating the therapeutic potential of two novel stents incorporating pimecrolimus for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Both stents will use Conor's reservoir-based cobalt chromium drug-eluting stent platform.

One stent will be loaded with pimecrolimus. The other stent will be a dual-drug stent loaded with both pimecrolimus and paclitaxel.

"We are very pleased to expand our pipeline of product candidates through the licensing of pimecrolimus from Novartis and look forward to furthering the development of our drug-eluting stents," chairman and chief executive officer Frank Litvack said in the release.

"The unique reservoir design of Conor's drug-eluting stent platform enables us to explore novel therapeutics and new therapeutic combinations for treating coronary artery disease."

Conor, based in Menlo Park, Calif., develops and commercializes vascular drug-delivery technologies and products.

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