NanoPass Technologies Grants an Exclusive License to Circassia Pharmaceuticals, for use of its MicronJet600™ Device in Allergy Testing in the US

NES ZIONA, Israel, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

NanoPass Technologies Ltd. ("NanoPass"), a pioneer in intradermal delivery solutions for vaccines, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement for the supply of MicronJet600™, its microneedle delivery device, to Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc. (Oxford, UK) ("Circassia"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the allergy market.

The Agreement will provide Circassia with an exclusive license to use the device for allergy testing in the US market. Financial terms were not disclosed. The license complements an earlier agreement between the two companies, under which Circassia is using the device in its allergy immunotherapy clinical studies, and intends to provide the MicronJet600™ with its next generation treatments once approved.

Dr. Yotam Levin, Chief Executive of NanoPass, said, "We are delighted to expand our collaboration with our long term partner, Circassia, to the field of allergy testing. We see the significant potential to improve usability, accuracy and allergy patients' satisfaction by using this reliable device. Intradermal allergy testing is commonly used with certain allergens, such as bee venom and penicillin, and when skin prick tests are negative but the physician believes an allergy exists^[1].  Reliable intradermal delivery is critical for proper conduct and interpretation of this test, and performing it with a regular needle is typically difficult."

"This agreement executes NanoPass's strategy to expand its collaborations beyond vaccines into additional fields such as allergy and cancer, where intradermal (ID) delivery is enabling improved outcomes and diagnostics".

About NanoPass Technologies Ltd. 

NanoPass is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of intradermal delivery for vaccines and immunotherapy.

NanoPass has concluded multiple clinical studies in various fields including vaccines (seasonal and pandemic influenza^[2],[3] and others) and is supporting multiple cancer and allergy immunotherapy studies. The company is backed by prominent investors including IHCV, Ofer Hi-Tech, DPartners and ‎Elcam Medical.‎

About Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc 

Circassia is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a range of allergy immunotherapy product candidates.  Established in 2006, Circassia has used its proprietary ToleroMune® technology to develop a new class of therapies, the Synthetic Immuno-Regulatory Epitopes (SPIREs), which have the potential to revolutionize allergy treatment.  

The Company's portfolio of SPIREs is designed to treat a broad range of seasonal and perennial allergies.  The most advanced, Cat-SPIRE, targets cat allergy and is currently in phase III development.  Three other product candidates, targeting house dust mite, ragweed and grass allergies, have completed clinical proof-of-concept phase IIb studies.

About MicronJet600™

MicronJet is a microneedle-based device for ID delivery of vaccines and drugs, enabling consistent, nearly painless and simple delivery of therapeutics directly into the skin. The device is cleared for marketing in various territories including the USA, for use by health care professionals for intradermal delivery (510K no. K092746).

1. Bernstein IL et al. Allergy Diagnostic Testing: An Updated Practice Parameter. Annals Of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 2008; 100(3, Supp 3):S1-S148.

2. Hung IFN et al. Dose sparing intradermal trivalent influenza (2010/2011) vaccination overcomes reduced immunogenicity of the 2009 H1N1 strain. Vaccine. 2012; 30(45):6427-35.

3. Levin Y et al. Are all intradermal delivery methods the same? Vaccine. 2014;(32):4249-52.

SOURCE NanoPass Technologies LTD.