Xeris Biopharma (NSDQ:XERS) announced today that it entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck (NYSE:MRK) for its XeriJect technology.
Chicago-based Xeris’ collaboration with Merck includes an option to license the XeriJect suspension-based formulation technology for use with undisclosed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the purpose of engineering ultra-high concentration, ready-to-use formulations.
The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The company designed XeriJect to offer advantages over existing drug formulations, such as reducing injection volume and eliminating the need for reconstitution. XeriJect allows for subcutaneous and intramuscular delivery using syringes, single-use auto-injectors, multidose pens and/or infusion pumps.
“We are quite excited to be working closely with Merck on this opportunity using our novel platform technology, XeriJect,” Xeris Biopharma Chairman & CEO Paul R. Edick said in a news release. “The XeriJect platform has broad applicability in improving the delivery of large molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies. This is another in a series of collaborations Xeris has undertaken with top 10 pharma companies evaluating the XeriJect technology.”
