DURECT Corporation announced that it had entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with Oxford Finance LLC, pursuant to which Oxford agreed to make a term loan to the company in the principal amount of $20 million. The loan has a fixed interest rate of 7.95% per annum with interest only payments for the first 18 months and repayment of all principal and interest by July 1, 2018.  In addition, the Company paid a $150,000 facility fee at closing and, at maturity or earlier termination, the Company must pay Oxford an additional one-time payment equal to 8% of the initial principal amount of the term loan.  The Company may use the proceeds of the Loan Agreement for general working capital and to fund its business requirements.   

"We're pleased to secure this financing on favorable terms which gives us more flexibility to advance our pipeline of products in development," stated James E. Brown, President and CEO of DURECT Corporation. 

DURECT is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative drugs for pain and other chronic diseases, with late-stage development programs including REMOXY®, POSIDUR™, ELADUR®, and TRANSDUR®-Sufentanil.  DURECT's proprietary oral, transdermal and injectable depot delivery technologies enable new indications and superior clinical/commercial attributes such as abuse deterrence, improved convenience, compliance, efficacy and safety for small molecule and biologic drugs. 

Oxford Finance is a specialty finance firm providing senior secured loans to public and private life sciences and healthcare services companies worldwide. For over 20 years, Oxford has delivered flexible financing solutions to its clients, enabling these companies to maximize their equity by leveraging their assets.  In recent years, Oxford has originated over $2 billion in loans, with lines of credit ranging from $500 thousand to $50 million. Oxford is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with additional offices in California, Massachusetts, Illinois and North Carolina.