PowderJect: Roche in a big hurry

Even though PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc's needleless delivery system is jet-propelled, it was not fast enough for partner Roche. While Roche Group's decision to terminate a deal to develop a needleless injection version of an undisclosed protein led to speculation that Roche didn't like the system, the delivery company said the decision was made because of Roche's need to get its protein quickly to market.

PowderJect (LSE:PJP, Oxford, U.K.) was partially the victim of delays caused by Roche's acquisition of original partner Boehringer Mannheim, according to Gordon Saul, business development director at PJP...