Touting superior nasal delivery, Satsuma bags $62M for new formulation of old migraine drug
A single-minded biotech out of South San Francisco has raised $62 million to run the last mile hoping to breath new life into a generic migraine drug.
Spun out of Japan’s Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories two years ago, Satsuma Pharmaceuticals’ sole lead asset combines dihydroergotamine with a dry-powder nasal formulation and drug delivery technologies developed by the parent company.
Dihydroergotamine works by tightening blood vessels in the brain and inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory substances. Unlike the much-watched CGRP class, it is designed for acute treatment instead of prevention. Although nasal sprays are currently available, they are generally considered less effective than the injectable versions — and that’s what Satsuma is out to change.
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