ZappRx, Genentech partner to speed patient access to specialty drugs

Genentech Inc. partnered with ZappRx Inc. (Boston, Mass.) to use the latter's digital platform to improve patient access to specialty drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with an option to expand into allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria drugs.

Genentech markets Esbriet pirfenidone for IPF and Xolair omalizumab for allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria. ZappRx founder and CEO Zoë Barry told BioCentury the deal provides Genentech "deep insight into understanding how and why drugs are getting stuck” in various stages of the drug fulfillment process. Barry did not disclose financial details. ...