Nycomed & Orion Corporation to Collaborate on Easyhaler

Nycomed recently announced it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Orion Corporation for the co-marketing of Easyhaler combination products for the treatment of asthma and COPD in the major European countries and an exclusive license and distribution arrangement for the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Both companies will commercialize Easyhaler combination products under their own brands accompanied by the Easyhaler umbrella brand.

The agreement covers Orion’s new Easyhaler combination products for treatment of asthma and COPD. Orion is developing a budesonide-formoterol formulation that combines budesonide as an anti-inflammatory agent and formoterol as a long-acting bronchodilator. In addition, Orion has another Easyhaler research program in progress to develop a fluticasone-salmeterol formulation. In this formulation, fluticasone acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and salmeterol acts as a long-acting bronchodilator. Both these combination products are included in the co-marketing agreement.

Respiratory is a key strategic area for Nycomed, including the COPD treatment Daxas (roflumilast), Alvesco (ciclesonide) for asthma, and Omnaris (ciclesonide) for allergic rhinitis. The collaboration with Nycomed reinforces Orion’s presence throughout Europe and is in line with Orion’s strategy to strengthen its marketing position in Europe and the sales coverage through partnerships. The co-marketing area – in which both companies present their own product brands under the Easyhaler umbrella brand – covers the major European countries, including Austria, the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. Orion will retain exclusive marketing rights for the Nordic countries, UK, and Eastern Europe, where the company is currently promoting single molecule Easyhaler products. Orion will exclusively manufacture the Easyhaler combination products covered by the agreement.

Orion’s portfolio of proprietary products includes Easyhaler, an in-house developed dry-powder inhaler. Orion has developed Easyhaler-adapted dry powder formulations of several well-known generic active substances (salbutamol, beclometasone, budesonide, formoterol) used in the treatment of asthma and COPD. At the moment, under development are new combined formulations of budesonide-formoterol, and fluticasone-salmeterol for the treatment of asthma and COPD.

Orion is an innovative European R&D-based pharmaceutical and diagnostic company with a special emphasis on developing medicinal treatments and diagnostic tests for global markets.

Nycomed is a privately owned global pharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio focused on branded medicines in gastroenterology, respiratory, and inflammatory diseases, pain, osteoporosis, and tissue management. A range of OTC products completes the portfolio.