Acura, Pfizer deal
Pfizer returned rights to Oxecta oxycodone to Acura after the biotech terminated a 2007 deal granting the pharma North American rights to the pain drug and Acura's Aversion abuse-deterrent technology. On a conference call discussing the termination, Acura said the pharma's commercial organization "never provided much support to the product after Pfizer de-prioritized its immediate-release opioid portfolio commencing in 2012." Acura will make a one-time payment of $2 million for the termination. Neither company will have royalty obligations to the other going forward. Acura said it is evaluating its strategic options for the product and other pain products developed using the Aversion technology that the pharma returned last year to Acura. The biotech said it may re-launch Oxecta under a new brand name with a partner (see BioCentury, July 15, 2013). ...