Alcami Corporation, a leading provider of fully-integrated custom end-to-end solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has announced the expanded deployment of its Extended Workbench laboratory services program to support the ongoing manufacturing and development of ZILRETTA (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension).

ZILRETTA is the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved product from Flexion Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, local therapies for the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, beginning with osteoarthritis (OA). Flexion utilized Alcami’s Extended Workbench to support ZILRETTA from Phase 2 clinical trials through commercial launch and is using the program for the release and stability testing of commercial batches.
 
Alcami’s Extended Workbench is a full-time equivalent (FTE) comprehensive service program customized to a client’s specific project. It dedicates Alcami staff to a particular project, granting clients additional flexibility, freedom, and consistent control over their outsourced laboratory needs. Extended Workbench can vary in size, management type, and scope, and can be effective across any pharmaceutical platform. The fixed-cost service can meet every laboratory necessity, from method development and validation to full quality control support.

“Our versatile Extended Workbench solution was an excellent fit for our partners at Flexion, whose accelerated timeline, robust clinical trial program, and specific testing requirements mandated dedicated laboratory resources to get their product to market,” said Alcami Chief Commercial Officer, Syed Husain. “It was a privilege to have collaborated with Flexion, leading to the approval of ZILRETTA, and we are pleased our Extended Workbench will continue to support their product.”

“For the past four years, Alcami has been one of our most trusted collaborators,” said Mike Clayman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Flexion. “They have been able to both respond to and anticipate our needs as Flexion has transitioned into a commercial organization, and we look forward to their ongoing support.”

ZILRETTA is the first and only FDA-approved extended-release intra-articular therapy for patients confronting OA-related knee pain. ZILRETTA employs proprietary microsphere technology combining triamcinolone acetonide – a commonly administered, short-acting corticosteroid – with a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) matrix to provide extended pain relief over 12 weeks.

Alcami began work on ZILRETTA in the fall of 2014. The company helped Flexion meet demanding requirements from the FDA during the review of the New Drug Application, which ultimately resulted in the US approval of ZILRETTA for the treatment of OA-related knee pain on October 6, 2017. The product was officially launched nationwide in late November of 2017.