John Patton
Chairman & CSO at Dance Biopharm
Dr. John Patton began Dance Biopharm operations in 2010 with a carefully selected core team. Previously, he was the co-founder of Inhale Therapeutics (now Nektar Therapeutics), where he helped lead the development and FDA approval of the first inhaled insulin product. During his 18-year tenure at Inhale, Patton was a key driver for the company’s business development deals and participated in financings totaling more than $700M. Prior to founding Inhale, Patton led the drug delivery group at Genentech from 1985-1990; before that time, he was a tenured professor at the University of Georgia.
Title: Inhaled insulin: More compelling than ever!
- Although inhaled insulin was shown to be feasible almost 100 years ago it was not until 1990, that efforts to commercialize it were launched. Since then more than $7B has been spent on development with two dry powder products receiving FDA approval, one in 2006 (Exubera) and another in 2014 (Afrezza)
- Upon launch these products encountered difficult commercial barriers due to poor market preparation, resistance from the established injected insulin businesses and some issues with the first generation technologies. These barriers are understood and addressable. The need for a non-invasive way to deliver insulin remains high
- Dance is developing a third generation soft mist inhaler that is connected. The company plans to initiate a global phase 3 program next year with 1/3 of the patients coming from China, 1/3 from Europe and 1/3 from the Americas