MPI Research, the US-based contract research organisation (CRO) focused on preclinical and early clinical services, has formed a strategic alliance with Bioject Medical Technologies, which develops and manufactures needle-free injection therapy systems.

Noting its new ally’s experience in the development of injectable therapeutics, Bioject said the agreement “creates a preferred partnership relationship which allows Bioject to gain access to a range of capabilities and resources needed for the company to explore our drug+device opportunities”.

These benefits included access to pharmacological, analytical, safety and other preclinical testing resources at MPI Research, added Bioject, a US company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. In return, MPI would be able to offer Bioject’s needle-free technology as an alternative product delivery option to “current drug/biologic manufacturers who may be interested in seeking a more highly competitive and differentiable drug+device brand”.

The alliance also increased the chances of Bioject and MPI Research securing government-sponsored grants or funding directed at improvements in drug+device- or vaccine+device-based treatments, which could in turn lead to potential new drug+device combinations, Bioject pointed out.