Investment in Development of
Medical Foods and Medical Devices

As R&D pipelines for new drug candidates have dried up, pharmaceutical companies have become increasingly reliant on in-licensing to complement their home-grown product portfolios. InterPharm Investments Ltd is building a product pipeline by co-financing the development of innovative healthcare products which will be out-licensed worldwide to help meet this growing need.

OTX: a growing healthcare market segment

We focus on products in the “OTX” sector. These are used by patients under the recommendation or supervision of specialist physicians or dentists, but can be directly purchased in a pharmacy without a prescription. Promotion of OTX products is directed to the specialists who manage the particular medical condition, not to consumers in general. In many countries, these products are non-reimbursed, and therefore not subject to the same downward pressure on prices as most prescribed medicinal products. As governments push the responsibility for paying for healthcare onto individuals, the non-reimbursed sector is uniquely positioned as an opportunity for growth within the overall healthcare arena.

We identify development opportunities in universities, spin-off companies and small pharma or nutraceuticals companies and provide co-financing for product development. Key considerations for investment include:

A strong patent position
Exclusivity over raw material supplies
Strong evidence for potential benefits
Potential use in a specialist medical field
Clear competitive advantages for finished product
Compatibility with regulatory criteria for a medical food, dietary supplement or medical device