Meritage Pharma Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Meritage Pharma was built by serial biotech entrepreneur Cam Garner around a viscous formulation of budesonide designed to coat the inflamed throat. It is now in Phase II trials for an orphan indication, pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus that appears to be triggered by allergies. Meritage's decision to reformulate a compound with a well-established safety record is, like the choice to pursue an orphan drug designation, a risk- and cost-reducing maneuver that has helped other biotech companies achieve success.