Simmons & Simmons has advised medical device and technology company, Adherium (NZ) Limited (‘Adherium’), on a groundbreaking long-term supply and development agreement to supply its digital health ‘Smartinhaler’™ to AstraZeneca AB (‘AstraZeneca’).

Adherium is a New Zealand-based company which uses digital health technology to address sub-optimal medication use and remote patient management in chronic disease, primarily respiratory disease. Its novel Smartinhaler™ devices attach to a person’s inhaler and provide medication use data which can be viewed via a mobile phone app or other digital interfaces.

Adherium has entered into a long-term supply and development agreement with AstraZeneca for the supply of various of its Smartinhaler™ devices for use with AstraZeneca’s inhaler range. AstraZeneca and Adherium have also agreed arrangements for ongoing research and development activities about their inhaler technologies.

The Simmons & Simmons team comprised Richard Binns (IP) and Charles Mayo (Corporate), assisted by James Agnew (IP) and George Morris (IT/Data).

Commenting on the transaction Richard Binns and Charles Mayo said: “we are very pleased to have advised Adherium on this breakthrough technology transaction. It’s always rewarding to assist clients in the emerging sector of digital health. This demonstrates the value of our approach: combining our in depth knowledge of both the life sciences and TMT sectors with our proven expertise in supporting innovative growth businesses."

Commenting on the transaction, Garth Sutherland (Adherium’s Chief Executive Officer), said: "we believe this agreement is a world-first commercial scale arrangement combining digital health technology with leading inhaled medications to improve health outcomes for patients with respiratory conditions. Simmons & Simmons corporate and intellectual property guidance was invaluable. Richard, Charles, James and George have a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and medical device world that was highly relevant. This has resulted in a robust, long term, commercial agreement."