Amring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it will change its name to Nordic Pharma, Inc, following its acquisition by the UK-based company.
Let’s begin with Nordic Pharma.
Nordic Pharma is a privately owned marketing and sales pharmaceutical company based in the United Kingdom.
Its focus involves developing and commercializing specialty products in a number of therapeutics areas—including ophthalmology.
And Amring?
The Berwyn, Pennsylvania-based Amring Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2015 as a privately-held pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
The company specializes in niche generic formulations and bringing “value-driven brands”—via partnerships with global biopharma companies on biotech-based medicines—to the market.
Gotcha. So why the name change?
Per the company, the move reflects last year’s change in company ownership, when Nordic Group B.V. purchased Amring from Nordic’s parent company: SEVER Life Sciences B.V, an an international conglomerate of companies with a specialty focus on products, services, and technologies.
And what does this mean for Amring?
Per Amring, the company is expected to be more strategically aligned with Nordic (its parent company) and its subsidiaries’ global footprint, with expansion planned for branded products and U.S. generic product business operations in Nordic’s focus areas of :
- Eye care
- Rheumatology
- Women's health
- Critical care
What does Nordic’s eyecare portfolio look like?
In the ophthalmology sector, the company’s portfolio includes:
- Clinitas 0.2%*
- Clinitas 0.4% *
- Sodium hyaluronate-containing lubricating eye drops for relieving dry eye; available in uni- and multi-dose formats
- *Class 2a medical devices (per the FDA’s guidelines)
- Sodium hyaluronate-containing lubricating eye drops for relieving dry eye; available in uni- and multi-dose formats
- Biolon**
- 1% sodium hyaluronate
- Biolone Prime**
- 1.2% sodium hyaluronate
- Ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVD) designed to aid in cataract and other ophthalmic surgery by maintaining the anterior chamber and protecting the corneal endothelium during procedures
- **Class 2b medical devices
- Ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVD) designed to aid in cataract and other ophthalmic surgery by maintaining the anterior chamber and protecting the corneal endothelium during procedures
- 1.2% sodium hyaluronate
What else?
More recently, as part of its acquisition (through Amring) of the clinical-stage medical device company Visant Medical, Inc., Nordic added LACRIFILL, a medical device for dry eye treatment, to its portfolio.
Quick rundown on this, please.
Granted FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2022, the cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA)-based canalicular occlusive device is designed to block tear drainage via occlusion of the canalicular system.
LACRIFILL already has an established CPT reimbursement code (68720) and is indicated for up to 6 months of use in patients experiencing dry eye symptoms.
What are Nordic’s plans for this therapeutic device?
The company is planning to commercially launch LACRIFILL in the U.S. in Q2 2024 as its second branded medical device in the U.S. market (after Biolon, see above).
A global commercial rollout is expected to follow.
Anything else?
LACRIFILL’s U.S. introduction will be a major focus for two of Nordic’s newest industry leaders:
- Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA, FAAO, Nordic’s chief operating officer, Eyecare U.S.
- Appointed in January 2024
- Eric Donnenfeld, MD, chair of Nordic’s Medical Advisory Board
- Appointed in February 2024