BRIEF—Durect out-licenses Posimir to focus on pipeline

A new licensing agreement between Durect Corporation and Innocoll Biotherapeutics grants the latter exclusive development and commercialization rights to Posimir (bupivacaine).

The non-opioid, sustained-release local analgesic is approved in the USA for the treatment of post-surgical pain for certain operations.

Durect chief executive James Brown said: "We are excited to license the US development and commercialization rights for Posimir to Innocoll, whose dedicated hospital sales and marketing organization is deeply committed to providing non-opioid analgesia products to patients in the post-surgical setting.”

Durect is looking to focus its efforts on the development of larsucosterol, the firm’s lead epigenetic regulator, which is in late-stage studies for alcohol-associated hepatitis.

As well as a small up-front fee, Innocoll will pay up to $130 million in commercial, regulatory and IP milestones as well as tiered, low to mid double-digit royalties on US sales.