The New Jersey company working to replace the needle in emergency allergy treatment with a film that dissolves under the tongue has a new place to do its science.
Aquestive Therapeutics, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, has moved its research and development operations from Warren to The HELIX in New Brunswick, where it took approximately 5,000 square feet of lab space.
CEO Daniel Barber said the move is about both the company’s present and its future.
“Our decision to establish our R&D operations at The Helix reflects both where Aquestive is today and where we are going,” he said. “The combination of ready-to-use lab space, access to talent, and a growing life sciences community gives our team an environment where we can collaborate, conduct our R&D activities, and continue developing innovative medicines for patients.”
Aquestive is known for PharmFilm, its technology for delivering medicine through thin oral films. The company is the exclusive manufacturer of four commercial products sold by its licensees across six continents, according to Aquestive.
Its lead product candidate is Anaphylm, a needle-free epinephrine film placed under the tongue to treat severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Aquestive resubmitted its application for the drug to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September. Anaphylm has not been approved by the FDA.
The company is also developing a library of more than 20 epinephrine prodrugs for potential allergy and dermatology uses, including an epinephrine topical gel.
DEVCO President Chris Paladino, the master developer of the HELIX, said Aquestive is exactly the kind of tenant the project was built for.
“Aquestive is the kind of New Jersey-based innovator The HELIX was designed to support,” he said. “Its decision to locate its R&D operations here further strengthens the collaborative life sciences community developing in New Brunswick.”
Jason Bender of JLL, which markets the lab suites at H-1, brokered the deal.
“Aquestive needed lab space that was ready on day one, and The HELIX delivered it,” he said. “This turnkey, move-in-ready lab lets their scientists get to work right away, and alleviates the time, capital, and construction risk associated with planning and constructing a lab.”
