SWK Holdings Corporation Acquires Enteris BioPharma to Advance Oral Peptide Drug Delivery Platform

On August 28, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that SWK Holdings Corporation (SWK), a financial services company specializing in the life sciences sector, announced the acquisition of biopharmaceutical company Enteris BioPharma (Enteris) for $21.5 million.

Upon completion of this acquisition, Enteris will operate as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary of SWK, under the leadership of SWK’s existing management team.

Enteris, founded in 2013 and headquartered in New Jersey, USA, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The company develops products based on its proprietary oral peptide drug delivery technology and is researching drugs for diseases such as endometriosis and urinary tract infections.

Peptelligence is Enteris’s proprietary drug delivery technology that enables the oral administration of peptides and BCS Class II, III, and IV small molecules. Currently, drugs developed from these substances can only be administered via intravenous injection, resulting in poor patient compliance. Peptelligence technology enhances the solubility and systemic absorption of peptides and small molecules while minimizing the impact of food on oral drug bioavailability.

Enteris has conducted multiple clinical studies on its Peptelligence technology, demonstrating that the platform can safely deliver peptide-based therapeutics and other molecules with low oral bioavailability. Currently, Enteris is advancing multiple drug development programs using the Peptelligence technology.

One of Enteris’ lead drug candidates is oral leuprolide acetate tablets (Ovarest) for the treatment of endometriosis in women. Approximately 6 million women in the United States are affected by this condition, and current standard of care involves monthly intramuscular injections of leuprolide acetate. The oral leuprolide acetate tablet formulation offers an alternative to injectable therapy, and Enteris is currently evaluating its efficacy and safety.

Furthermore, Enteris is conducting clinical development of oral tobramycin tablets (Tobrate) for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). While antibiotics are the standard treatment for UTIs, their efficacy is often suboptimal. Oral tobramycin has the potential to become a first-line therapy for UTIs.

Enteris estimates, based on external market research, that the total annual sales of oral formulations of leuprolide acetate and tobramycin will exceed $1 billion.

SWK, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Texas, USA, is a financial firm specializing in the healthcare sector. The company primarily focuses on finance and asset management, providing capital support and strategic guidance to commercial-stage healthcare and life sciences companies. Since its inception, SWK and its partners have completed 34 capital transactions, providing nearly $500 million in funding to the life sciences industry.

SWK CEO Winston Black stated, “Enteris possesses mature platform technology, a development pipeline, and production capabilities; this acquisition marks a significant milestone in SWK’s transformation from the traditional financial sector.”

Winston Black added, “Enteris has currently established partnerships with seven pharmaceutical companies. We believe that Enteris’ Peptelligence technology holds significant potential. SWK will provide financial support to Enteris to accelerate its development and create value for the market.”

(Compiled by: Xu Xiaoxue)