Gastroenterology

Ferring has a strong heritage of educational support, sponsorship and clinical research within Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). A series of developmental initiatives are underway to bring new products in this indication to market.

A glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor (GLP-2) agonist, discovered by Ferring with strong potential in gastrointestinal and oncology indications, is in early stage development through a partnership.

We have in-licensed a novel selective IL-6 soluble receptor antagonist from Conaris Research Institute AG, a spin-off of Kiel University. This product is being developed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other immune disorders. Patient Phase I programme is on-going with Phase II planned for 2015.

Ferring’s key product PENTASA® (mesalazine) is approved for the treatment of IBD including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Ferring is continuing to develop many different dosage forms for PENTASA® such as tablets, sachets and suppositories to meet changing patient and physician needs.

In 2013 Ferring, together with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA, launched budesonide MMX™, which is indicated for use in ulcerative colitis. Ferring’s licence from Cosmo Pharmaceuticals does not include the US and Japan.

The Ferring gastroenterology portfolio also includes bowel preparations – PICOPREP® / PREPOPIK® (sodium picosulphate, magnesium oxide, citric acid) – used to prepare patients for colonoscopy, and GLYPRESSIN® (terlipressin) which is indicated for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices. Building on our experience with GLYPRESSIN® Ferring is developing a partial vasopressin-1a receptor agonist for treatment of refractory ascites.