On June 3, Camurus and Eli Lilly entered into a collaboration and license agreement, granting Lilly exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize long-acting incretin-based products using Camurus’ FluidCrystal? technology for cardiometabolic health.
The agreement covers up to four proprietary Lilly drug compounds. These include GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, GIP/glucagon/GLP-1 receptor agonists, and options involving amylin receptor agonists. The technology is expected to extend the dosing intervals of Lilly’s GLP-1 therapies, thereby improving patient adherence.
The partnership focuses on developing long-acting treatments based on Camurus’ FluidCrystal? technology and Lilly’s proprietary compounds. Camurus is eligible to receive up to $870 million in potential development and sales milestone payments, as well as mid-single-digit royalties.
Fredrik Tiberg, Camurus’ President and CEO, stated: “We are excited to collaborate with Lilly to bring innovative long-acting treatment options to patients suffering from obesity, diabetes, and other serious chronic diseases. Partnering with Lilly, a global leader in metabolic disorders, allows us to rapidly expand our impact across indications affecting hundreds of millions, while maintaining our commercial focus on CNS and rare diseases.”
Camurus’ FluidCrystal? technology significantly improves treatment adherence by extending drug release and reducing dosing frequency.
The technology is designed to deliver therapeutic levels of drugs over days to months with a single injection via pre-filled syringes or autoinjector pens. Upon contact with bodily fluids, the lipid solution transforms into a liquid crystal gel, rapidly encapsulating the active substance. The drug is then slowly released as the gel matrix gradually degrades in the tissue.
This technology has been commercially and regulatory validated with approvals and product sales in Europe, the US, and Australia. Notably, Camurus’ Buvidal?—based on FluidCrystal?—is marketed in multiple countries to aid patients in overcoming opioid dependence.
Camurus is developing a once-monthly semaglutide injection, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, using this technology.
Camurus’ R&D pipeline includes various long-acting drugs based on FluidCrystal? for the treatment of rare diseases and other medical needs.
Buvidal? is a long-acting buprenorphine injection for the treatment of opioid dependence in adults and adolescents aged 16 and above, administered weekly or monthly by healthcare professionals. Brixadi? is the US brand name for Buvidal?, approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder.
