Collaboration announced for device treating mental health issues

Italian-based biotech firm Stevanato Group and Bexson Biomedical Inc. announced a collaboration to treat a wide range of mental health issues with a subcutaneous drug-delivery device, including treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.

Since 2020, Stevanato and Bexson have been working to optimize the modularity of the SG EZ-be Pod, a small, wearable infusion device for the treatment of chronic and acute pain disorders. Their latest collaboration will grant Bexson access to the use of a customized version of the SG EZ-be Pod to develop new therapeutics that can treat a wide range of mental health conditions.

“We are grateful that our partners have the expertise and ideal technology to deliver, not just Bexson’s ketamine formulation, but also other compounds optimized by Bexson’s formulation technology,” Jeffrey Becker, MD, Bexson’s chief scientific officer, said in a company-issued press release. “Beyond pain management and mental health indications, this partnership enables a dynamic small molecule delivery system that can be applied to a surprisingly large number of important therapies.”

The subcutaneous delivery system is the flagship for Bexson’s proprietary ketamine formulation, BB106, and has been shown to work with several other classes of small molecules beyond ketamine. This new agreement allows both companies to evaluate further collaborations with their device and drug platforms.

“The extension of our wearable device to a wider range of therapeutic areas may help provide effective and comfortable treatments to patients suffering from mental illness or chronic pain that impacts the quality of their lives,” Mauro Stocchi, Stevanato Chief Business Officer, said in the release.