Alexza's crescendo

In last week's two-product deal with Symphony Capital Partners, Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. is playing it safe on what the drug delivery company believes eventually could be its first foray into marketing niche products for its own account.

The deal puts ALXA's Staccato alprazolam (AZ-002) and Staccato loxapine (AZ-004) - two generics delivered using the company's Staccato inhaler - into a financing conduit called Symphony Allegro, which will fund Phase II development...