Neopharm Group announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement with NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. which licenses to Neopharm the rights to develop and commercialize teduglutide in Israel, for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The project matches Neopharm’s capabilities in development and marketing in the gastroenterology field.
Teduglutide is a proprietary analog of naturally occurring human glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), a peptide secreted primarily in the distal intestine and involved in the regeneration and repair of the intestinal epithelium. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that teduglutide stimulates the repair and regeneration of cells lining the small intestine, expanding the surface area for absorption of nutrients. The lead indication for teduglutide is short bowel syndrome or SBS, a complex disorder primarily caused by intestinal resection. SBS patients suffer from malnutrition, severe diarrhea, dehydration, fatigue, osteopenia, and weight loss due to a loss in the ability to absorb adequate amounts of nutrients and water. The goals of current treatment are to maintain fluid electrolyte, and nutrient balances through dietary management, including the use of parenteral nutrition (PN).
