Windtree Announces License and Supply Agreement to Become Sourcing Partner for a Small Biotech with an FDA Approved Product
Rhea-AI Summary
Windtree Therapeutics (WINT) has signed a License and Supply Agreement to become the sourcing partner for Evofem Biosciences' FDA-approved product PHEXXI®, a first-in-class hormone-free contraceptive vaginal gel. This partnership aligns with Windtree's new corporate strategy announced in January 2025 to become a revenue-generating biotech.
PHEXXI generated over $19 million in annual revenues with more than 96,000 boxes sold in 2024. Through its manufacturing contacts, Windtree aims to significantly reduce PHEXXI's production costs, while Evofem maintains asset ownership and continues commercialization efforts in the US and internationally.
The partnership focuses on making PHEXXI more accessible in price-sensitive global markets by decreasing per-box manufacturing costs. Windtree will work with a pharmaceutical manufacturer to handle tech transfer and produce initial and validation batches according to FDA requirements.
Positive
- New revenue stream potential through manufacturing partnership for FDA-approved product
- Target product has proven market success with $19M annual revenue
- Opportunity to expand into global markets through cost reduction strategy
- No upfront capital investment required for manufacturing
Negative
- Success depends on unproven ability to reduce manufacturing costs
- No guaranteed minimum revenue specified in the agreement
- Potential conflicts of interest due to shared board member between companies
Insights
This License and Supply Agreement represents a significant strategic shift for Windtree, marking the company's first concrete step toward its January 2025 announced goal of becoming a revenue-generating biotech. By positioning itself as a sourcing partner for Evofem's FDA-approved PHEXXI contraceptive product, Windtree is creating a potential revenue stream without assuming the risks of direct commercialization or product development.
The agreement leverages Windtree's manufacturing network to address Evofem's production cost challenges. With PHEXXI generating
This partnership represents a low-risk market entry approach that provides Windtree immediate commercial relevance while potentially establishing a template for similar deals. Importantly, the connection between the companies (Evofem's CEO sits on Windtree's board) likely facilitated this agreement but also warrants attention to proper governance protocols.
The technical transfer of an FDA-approved vaginal gel formulation to new manufacturing facilities represents a moderate implementation challenge but significant opportunity. Windtree claims its manufacturing contacts can produce PHEXXI at "significantly below current levels," which could dramatically improve the product's commercial viability in price-sensitive international markets.
Investors should understand that executing this agreement involves complex technical transfers, validation batches, and regulatory approvals that will require time before realizing benefits. The announcement mentions these FDA requirements but provides no specific timeline for completion. Manufacturing transfers for pharmaceutical products typically take 6-12 months minimum before commercial production begins.
The global expansion opportunity is substantial if cost reductions materialize as expected. PHEXXI faces competition from established hormonal contraceptives, but its unique hormone-free positioning provides differentiation that could be leveraged in new markets if price barriers are removed. For Windtree, this represents execution on their strategic pivot with minimal capital investment by leveraging existing manufacturing relationships.
Transaction is part of the Company’s new corporate strategy to become a revenue generating biotech
WARRINGTON, Pa., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (“Windtree” or the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: WINT), a biotechnology company focused on becoming a revenue generating biotech and advancing early and late-stage innovative therapies for critical conditions and diseases, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a License and Supply Agreement to become the sourcing partner for Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (OTCQB: EVFM) for one of Evofem’s FDA-approved products -- PHEXXI® (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate). The product is a first-in-class hormone-free, on-demand prescription contraceptive vaginal gel that women control. PHEXXI annual revenues have grown to more than
Windtree has manufacturing contacts that we believe are capable of reducing pharmaceutical product cost of goods for PHEXXI. Pursuant to the License and Supply Agreement, Windtree will serve as the sourcing partner to Evofem and aims to help generate profitable revenue by contracting with the manufacturer to produce PHEXXI at a cost that is significantly below current levels. Evofem will maintain ownership of the asset and continue to commercialize PHEXXI in the United States and internationally through strategic partnerships.
“Windtree announced our new corporate strategy to become a revenue generating biotech in January 2025,” said Jed Latkin, CEO of Windtree. “This License and Supply Agreement with Evofem is a first step in our plan to generate profitable revenue to provide value to our stockholders. Using our extensive contacts across the globe, we have engaged with a pharmaceutical manufacturer on the plan to produce PHEXXI. We look forward to this opportunity. We anticipate that our manufacturing partner will work with us as we do the tech transfer and manufacture the initial batches and the validation batches in line with the FDA requirements.”
“Global expansion of PHEXXI has always been a critical mandate for Evofem, but a significant hurdle has been high manufacturing costs which make commercialization cost-prohibitive in many markets outside of the U.S.,” said Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem. “The meaningful decrease in the per-box cost of PHEXXI that we expect to achieve with Windtree’s assistance should allow Evofem to take PHEXXI into new, price-sensitive global markets where there is great need for non-hormonal contraceptives that women control. Our goal is to empower women; and to have PHEXXI available in all markets around the world is a big step in that direction.”
[Saundra Pelletier is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Evofem, and is Interim Chair of Evofem’s board of directors, and also serves on Windtree’s board of directors.]
About Windtree Therapeutics, Inc.
Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on becoming a revenue generating biotech and advancing early and late-stage innovative therapies for critical conditions and diseases. Windtree’s portfolio of product candidates includes istaroxime, a Phase 2 candidate with SERCA2a activating properties for acute heart failure and associated cardiogenic shock, preclinical SERCA2a activators for heart failure and preclinical precision aPKCi inhibitors that are being developed for potential in rare and broad oncology applications. Windtree also has a licensing business model with partnership out-licenses currently in place.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains statements related to Windtree serving as a sourcing partner to Evofem; potential future positive revenue generation; manufacturing capabilities; decreasing the cost of PHEXXI; and Evofem taking PHEXXI into new global markets. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the Company’s ability to acquire revenue generating subsidiaries; the market’s reaction to potential acquisitions by the Company; the Company’s ability to secure significant additional capital as and when needed; the Company’s ability to achieve the intended benefits of the aPKCi asset acquisition with Varian Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.; the Company’s risks and uncertainties associated with the success and advancement of the clinical development programs for istaroxime and the Company’s other product candidates, including preclinical oncology candidates; the Company’s ability to access the debt or equity markets; the Company’s ability to manage costs and execute on its operational and budget plans; the results, cost and timing of the Company’s clinical development programs, including any delays to such clinical trials relating to enrollment or site initiation; risks related to technology transfers to contract manufacturers and manufacturing development activities; delays encountered by the Company, contract manufacturers or suppliers in manufacturing drug products, drug substances, and other materials on a timely basis and in sufficient amounts; risks relating to rigorous regulatory requirements, including that: (i) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory authorities may not agree with the Company on matters raised during regulatory reviews, may require significant additional activities, or may not accept or may withhold or delay consideration of applications, or may not approve or may limit approval of the Company’s product candidates, and (ii) changes in the national or international political and regulatory environment may make it more difficult to gain regulatory approvals and risks related to the Company’s efforts to maintain and protect the patents and licenses related to its product candidates; risks that the Company may never realize the value of its intangible assets and have to incur future impairment charges; risks related to the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s product candidates, and the Company’s ability to service those markets; the Company’s ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, if approved; the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of political unrest, including as a result of geopolitical tension, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the evolving events in the Middle East, and any sanctions, export controls or other restrictive actions that may be imposed by the United States and/or other countries which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s operations, including through disruption in supply chain or access to potential international clinical trial sites, and through disruption, instability and volatility in the global markets, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s ability to access the capital markets. These and other risks are described in the Company’s periodic reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
Contact Information:
Eric Curtis
ecurtis@windtreetx.com
FAQ
What are PHEXXI's current sales figures and market performance as mentioned in WINT's agreement?
How will the License and Supply Agreement between WINT and Evofem affect PHEXXI's global market access?
When did Windtree (WINT) announce its new corporate strategy to become revenue-generating?
What is WINT's role in the PHEXXI manufacturing process under the new agreement?
