Madison life-science firms agree to co-develop kidney product

Madison life-science firms agree to co-develop kidney product

Madison, Wis. – Two life-science companies with offices in Madison will co-develop and market products to treat patients with chronic kidney disease.
Cytochroma, Inc. and aOvaTechnologies, more commonly known as aOvaTech, have entered into a license and supply agreement to commercialize products to treat and prevent a condition associated with chronic renal failure.
The condition, hyperphosphatemia, refers to an abnormally high level of phosphate in the blood. A primary goal in the management of patients with chronic kidney disease is to maintain serum phosphorus levels within normal limits.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cytochroma will gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize aOvaTech’s proprietary technology – a naturally produced egg powder that has served as a dietary additive for animals – for use in human healthcare.
aOvaTech, in turn, will receive an up-front license fee and royalties on the sale of products covered by the license. aOvaTech also will supply Cytochroma with material for development and commercialization.
Keith Crawford, vice president of strategic planning at Cytochroma, noted that after nearly four decades of experience with phosphorus management strategies in kidney patients, phosphorus control remains elusive. The aim of this partnership, he added, is to simplify and improve the treatment regimen for kidney patients who struggle with phosphorus control.
Cytochroma, a pharmaceutical company that develops products to prevent and treat diseases related to vitamin D deficiency, has offices in Madison and Markham, Ontario, Canada.
aOvaTech, founded in Madison in 2001, previously has marketed its product as an alternative strategy for animal nutrition.
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