Under the agreement, Bexson has access to the use of a customized version of Stevanato’s SG EZ-be Pod wearable delivery system so it can develop new therapeutics for treating an array of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The companies have collaborated since 2020 to optimize the SG EZ-be Pod for treating chronic and acute pain disorders. In November 2021, the companies received pre-investigational new drug guidance from the FDA for a ketamine compound therapy delivered with the system.
Stevanato designed the device as a small, wearable infusion device capable of being programmed for a range of medications and delivery profiles, including at-home delivery.
In a news release, the companies said they hope to use the combination of their technologies to provide the dosing control advantages of intravenous medication delivery without the procedural burden and high costs. They also aim to permit real-time dose attunement in an office setting with the approach.
“We extend our collaboration with Bexson to better suit the needs of patients from different therapeutic areas by developing the modularity of our award-winning SG EZ-be Pod. The extension of our wearable device to a wider range of therapeutic areas may help provide effective and comfortable treatments to patients suffering from mental illness or chronic pain that impacts the quality of their lives,” Stevanato Chief Business Officer Mauro Stocchi said in the release. “The patient-centric SG EZ-be Pod is intended to give patients more flexibility in the administration of medication outside of clinics and hospitals. The partnership with Bexson responds also to the need for sustainability on part of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with the goal to reduce the overall cost per treatment.”
