Opiant partners with Consort Medical to develop nasal delivery device for treating opioid overdose.

M2 PHARMA-September 10, 2018-Opiant partners with Consort Medical to develop nasal delivery device for treating opioid overdose

(C)2018 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

Drugs and delivery devices maker Consort Medical plc (LSE: CSRT) has signed an agreement with Opiant Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: OPNT) to develop a nasal delivery device for its OPNT003 (intranasal nalmefene), a long-lasting opioid antagonist for the treatment of opioid overdose, the company revealed on Monday.

Under this agreement, Consort subsidiaries Aesica and Bespak will work with Opiant to produce a ready-to-use Unidose Xtra device pre-filled with nalmefene.

Aesica will supply Opiant with clinical samples and registration batches for the purposes of performing clinical studies and obtaining regulatory approvals. Upon approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Aesica and Bespak will manufacture and supply the Unidose Xtra device for commercial purposes.

Opiant intends to launch a confirmatory pharmacokinetic study in 2019 and anticipates the submission of a New Drug Application for the drug and intranasal delivery device combination in 2020.

Welcoming the agreement with Consort, Opiant CEO Dr Roger Crystal said: "OPNT003 has the potential to be a transformative treatment for opioid overdose, and Consort's significant experience with and expertise in inhalation technologies will help support our lead product candidate through commercialisation."

Opiant will retain full commercial rights to OPNT-003.

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