DURECT (NASDAQ:DRRX) (NASDAQ: DRRX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel, small-molecule therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in California, DURECT pursues programs in inflammatory, fibrotic, and central nervous system disorders. The company’s research is supported by a proprietary drug delivery platform designed to optimize the release profiles and bioavailability of its drug candidates.
The company’s leading clinical asset, DUR-928, is an endogenous regulator being evaluated for the treatment of liver diseases, kidney disorders, and acute organ injury. Another key program, POSIMIR, is an investigational, long-acting local analgesic formulation intended to manage postsurgical pain. DURECT also maintains a robust preclinical pipeline that leverages its small-molecule chemistry expertise to target novel pathways in autoimmune conditions and oncology.
Beyond its internal pipeline, DURECT commercializes RELiZORB®, an immobilized lipase cartridge designed to improve fat absorption in patients receiving enteral nutrition, and it has partnered with pharmaceutical companies to license its drug delivery technologies. The IntraPhase™ controlled-release platform is used to develop injectable depot formulations, while its ALZET® osmotic pumps are utilized by researchers worldwide for sustained compound delivery in preclinical studies.
Under the leadership of President and CEO Andrew B. Allen, DURECT collaborates with academic institutions, biotechnology firms, and pharmaceutical partners to advance both its therapeutic candidates and delivery systems. The company’s global reach extends through strategic alliances and licensing agreements aimed at accelerating clinical development and expanding access to its proprietary technologies.
