Biopharmaceutical company Alliqua (OTC: ALQAD) has supplemented its wound care business in a $6 million licensing deal with Celgene’s cellular therapuetics division. It has also secured $13 million in new investment, according to a company statement. It marks the latest step in its path to a listing on the national exchange.
With products offering antimicrobial protection set to play a big role in the future of healthcare, the company sees plenty of opportunity to grow marketshare in the wound care industry. The wound care market is projected to grow to $22.1 billion by 2016.
Alliqua will license two advanced wound care products from the Celgene subsidiary. The company will also acquire 1.67 million shares in Alliqua for about$6 million. Alliqua received an additional $7 million from Broadfin Capital and Perceptive Advisors in a separate financing deal.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
The company changed CEOs earlier this year and relocated from New York to Langhorne, Pa. The company has two hydrogel wound dressings approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to its website. Its SilverSeal wound dressing uses silver as part of its base to protect wounds from bacterial infections. Hydress is designed to be non-adhesive and have a cooling effect on wounds.
Alliqua’s agreement with Celgene’s subsidiary was the company’s latest licensing deal. In 2011, it licensed antimicrobial wound care products from Noble Biomaterials.
In additional to its wound care products, it is developing a cell-based bioartificial liver system called HepaMate through its subsidiary, HepaLife Biosystem.
