Imprimis Pharmaceuticals has acquired the intellectual property (IP) rights related to proprietary innovations from the compounding pharmacy operations of Ohio-based Buderer Drug, a compounding pharmacy member of PCCA.

The acquisition allows Imprimis to pursue the commercial development of these proprietary innovations and provides Imprimis with a right of first refusal on additional Buderer Drug intellectual property and drug development opportunities.

"This new relationship, which could lead to up to three new development programs, is a good example of our plan to begin to leverage our agreement with PCCA into proprietary IP that may ultimately lead to the FDA approval of new medicines to address unmet patient needs,” said Mark L. Baum, Imprimis chief executive officer.

"Imprimis understands that the ideas we generate come from a 'boots on the ground' approach—dealing directly with doctors and their patients to address specific and often unmet patient needs,” said Matt Buderer, R.Ph., vice president and chief compounding pharmacist with Buderer Drug. “We also appreciate that some drugs are demonstrably difficult for compounders to make and that often additional research and development is required before a drug can be used in humans, including more formal preclinical and clinical research.”

Compounding pharmacies work with physicians to develop medications for individual patients. Examples are alternative dosage strengths or unique dosage forms, such as topical creams or gels, suspensions or solutions with more tolerable drug delivery vehicles. Access to these formulations may be limited if patients don't live near a compounding pharmacy or cannot cover the out-of-pocket costs.

"Commercialization of formulations developed by Buderer Drug by taking them through a regulated FDA process would in the long run allow more patients to benefit from these medications,” said Baum. “At the same time, Imprimis respects the rights of pharmacists and physicians to continue to serve their patients' needs. Imprimis believes having an FDA-approved derivative of compounding's innovations will enhance the overall acceptance of compounding and develop new opportunities for compounders to serve patients."