LEO Pharma invests in biotech firm developing aerosol alopecia treatment device

LEO Pharma is investing in biotechnology company Novpyxis, as it develops an aerosol-based drug delivery device used for topical skin treatments, according to a news release.

The needle-free transdermal hand-held device would be used for the treatment of alopecia. The device will first be tested a clinical study of 20 patients with alopecia.

“The device has the potential to improve treatment for people with alopecia, many of whom endure painful injections with limited efficacy,” Kim Kjoeller, EVP Global Research and Development, LEO Pharma, said in the news release.

The agreement allows LEO Pharma to hold exclusive rights to license the technology in dermatological indications through an option agreement.

The LEO Science & Tech Hub also recently announced a two-year collaboration with the Karp Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The collaboration will be aimed at developing minimally invasive technologies for dermal market assessments.

Source: Leo Science and Tech Hub, “New Collaboration to Develop Technology for Minimally Invasive Dermal Biomarker Assessment,” news release, June 15, 2017.