MilliporeSigma Adds Sustained-Release Polymers to Excipients Portfolio

MilliporeSigma announced that it has entered into an agreement with fine-chemical group, PCAS, under which MilliporeSigma will receive exclusive rights to globally distribute the Expansorb line of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. This agreement expands MilliporeSigma's excipients portfolio.

The portfolio will consist of 38 polymers for sustained release applications in small-molecule formulations and selected peptide injectables. According to MilliporeSigma, these excipients enable the optimization of control-release kinetics of final drug products. Achieving better control and sustain release of drugs is known to help improve patient compliance and convenience because of the reduced number of injections needed to obtain the same therapeutic efficacy.

Expansorb poly lactic acid (PLA) and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymers are manufactured under cGMP conditions by PCAS and are expected to be sold under MilliporeSigma's Emprove program once evaluations and certifications are complete.

PLA and PLGA polymers are biocompatible and biodegradable synthetic substances already approved by FDA and EMA. These polymers are used in several drug products on the markets and a number of candidates undergoing clinical evaluation in the drug development pipeline. Nanosphere and microsphere formulations based on PLGA polymers have been studied for applications in drug delivery of peptides, therapeutic proteins, hormones, and antibiotics. The potential applications of these polymers as excipients in targeted drug-containing nanoparticles using site-specific ligands is also being investigated.

Source: MilliporeSigma