Italy's Medel SpA and Kurve Technology have formed a partnership to develop new aerosol therapy devices to deliver liquid-based drugs via the nose.

The terms of the deal call for Medel to provide design services and prototype production for Kurve, which has already developed a nasal drug delivery device that, the company says, is the only one of its type that can effectively deliver drug to the paranasal sinuses.

Once relegated to treating topical medical conditions such as allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, nasal drug delivery is now gaining global attention for treating a wide range of topical and systemic medical conditions from migraine headaches to cardiovascular disease. Nasal drug delivery offers the advantages of painless delivery, rapid drug absorption and potentially fewer side effects than traditional drug delivery methods.

Preliminary clinical results indicate that Kurve 's controlled particle dispersion technology can apply liquid-based pharmaceuticals far deeper into the nasal cavity than traditional nasal drug delivery devices. Coverage of the nasal mucosa and depth of drug penetration are two important elements of effective and efficient intranasal pharmaceutical treatments.

Marc Giroux, Kurve's CEO, said: "Medel was our first choice in manufacturing partners and we are delighted to be working with an acknowledged leader in the design and manufacturing of aerosol drug delivery devices."