Merck KGaA and Juniper Pharmaceuticals, a Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical company with contract development and manufacturing services, have extended a supply agreement for Crinone (progesterone gel), Juniper’s bioadhesive vaginal gel containing micronized progesterone.

The amended agreement extends the supply term an additional 4.5 years at least through to December 31, 2024. The current term was due to expire in May 2020. Merck KGaA has marketing rights worldwide except the US, where Crinone is marketed by Allergan.

Under the amended license and supply agreement, Juniper will remain the supplier of Crinone to Merck KGaA and will continue to sell Crinone to Merck KGaA, for the more than 90 countries outside of the US where Crinone is sold. The agreement also sets from July 1, 2020, a volume tiered, fixed price per unit with minimum annual volume guarantees. In addition, Juniper says it plans to increase the capacity of its supply chain in line with the projected growth of the product.

Juniper reported in the third quarter of 2017 that Crinone product revenues increased 19% year-over-year.

Source: Juniper Pharma