Pharmaxis announced that Aptar Pharma has exercised the option to acquire the worldwide rights to Pharmaxis' proprietary inhaler Orbital, a unique device designed to deliver high payload dry powder to the lungs. The exclusive option agreement was announced on August 17, 2021 and gave Aptar 12 months to evaluate the Orbital technology. Aptar Pharma will pay Pharmaxis USD 2.5 million to exercise the option to the Orbital technology and has also immediately exercised its subsequent right to outright acquire the technology by payment of a further USD 2.5 million.

Pharmaxis retains the rights to devices containing Orbital intellectual property used to deliver inhaled mannitol. The Orbital technology allows powder payloads of up to 400mg or more to be inhaled by patients in divided doses without the need to reload. This unique platform was originally developed as a life cycle extending product for the Pharmaxis cystic fibrosis drug Bronchitol®(mannitol).

However, it also meets an increasing global need to deliver high doses of other drugs, such as antibiotics, to the lungs.