After delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, downtown Silver Spring-based United Therapeutics is bringing its first product of 2021 to market, according to a report from Washington Business Journal.
United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR) announced last week that it has launched commercial sales of the innovative Remunity Pump for Remodulin, for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Originally targeted for a July 2020 release, it was delayed for several months due to the pandemic, UT President Michael Benkowitz told WBJ in October.
“We are excited to bring to market the first subcutaneous pump designed specifically for PAH patients,” said Beth Rhodes, Vice President, Global Supply Chain & Alliance Management at United Therapeutics in a statement. “Remunity is a small, discreet pump that delivers Remodulin in prefilled cassettes that are delivered directly to patients, offering significant improvements over current subcutaneous pumps.”
It’s the first pump of its kind for PAH patients, according to WBJ. Remunity was jointly developed by United Therapeutics and DEKA Research and Development Corp. New Hampshire-based DEKA Research was founded in 1982 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway and co-developer of the Coke Freestyle machine.
“The team at United Therapeutics have been relentless in their quest to improve the lives of patients with PAH. The Remunity Pump is the next step in their critical mission. Everyone at DEKA is extremely proud to be launching our innovative delivery technology with United Therapeutics,” said Dean Kamen, Founder and President of DEKA. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to all of us, the DEKA team has never forgotten that the PAH community is particularly vulnerable. This stark reality, along with the unwavering commitment by the UT team, has continued to energize us to reach this significant goal. We are confident that the Remunity Pump, particularly with cassettes prefilled with Remodulin, has the potential to improve the lives of the patients who depend on United Therapeutics.”
The announcement comes after UT gained orphan status for a drug to treat patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease that scars the lungs and impedes breathing, last December. UT also posted a third-quarter net income of $171.2 million last October, beating Wall Street expectations.
UT has also been expanding in the downtown Silver Spring area in recent years, opening the DDOMAL and net-zero Unisphere buildings, as well as purchasing the 8808 Cameron St. building.
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