23 November 2022 - - US-based biopharmaceutical company Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: XERS) has entered into a research collaboration and option agreement with Horizon Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: HZNP), the company said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Xeris will use its proprietary formulation technology platform, XeriJect, to develop an ultra-concentrated, ready-to-use, subcutaneous injection of teprotumumab and Horizon will have an option to license the Xeris technology.

Teprotumumab is the first and only medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease a serious, progressive and potentially vision-threatening rare autoimmune disease.

Teprotumumab-trbw is known as TEPEZZA in the United States. Xeris will receive an upfront payment, and may be entitled to receive development milestones, regulatory milestones, and sales-based milestones, as well as royalties based on future sales if the commercial license option is exercised.

Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

XeriJect formulations are innovative, ready-to-use, viscoelastic pharmaceutical suspensions that have the potential to improve drug delivery, lower treatment burden and improve patients' lives across a broad range of therapeutic categories.

XeriJect suspensions maximize drug loadings at >400mg/mL, enable small volume subcutaneous injections and do not settle on storage. The suspensions use FDA-approved excipients and leverage known manufacturing processes.

XeriJect formulation technology is well suited for drugs and biologics including large molecules such as proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines.

The technology is protected by an extensive patent estate, trade secrets and know-how, and it is available for licensing.

Xeris (NASDAQ: XERS) is a growth-oriented biopharmaceutical company committed to improving patients' lives by developing and commercializing innovative products across a range of therapies.

Xeris has three commercially available products; Gvoke, a ready-to-use liquid glucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia, Keveyis, the first and only FDA-approved therapy for primary periodic paralysis, and Recorlev for the treatment of endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

Xeris also has a pipeline of development programs to extend the current marketed products into important new indications and uses and bring new products forward using its proprietary formulation technology platforms, XeriSol and XeriJect, supporting long-term product development and commercial success.

Xeris Biopharma Holdings is headquartered in Chicago, IL.