Prosonix teams with ICL to assess MCPs for COPD and asthma
The aim is to assess how Prosonix’s multi-component particles (MCPs) - which are precise, excipient-free combinations of drugs designed for delivery via inhalation - can be turned into treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Prosonix hopes to advance one or more of its portfolio of MCPs – which include combinations of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) as well as LABAs with long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) - into preclinical studies by 2013.
The UK drug developer – which has a background in particle engineering – will assess the particles according to various performance criteria, one of which – co-localisation – could lead to the development of more effective treatments according to Omar Usmani from ICL’s National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI)
"Co-localisation of active components in respiratory drug combinations in the lung may offer the potential for an enhanced clinical effect and therapeutic efficacy that is currently not fully achieved with current combinations.
“With better treatment of respiratory diseases requiring improved combinations for these reasons, we are extremely interested in Prosonix' particle engineering approach and multi-component particles to determine whether they can demonstrate clinical synergy and thus provide a novel and effective means of delivering respiratory combinations."
Prosonix CEO David Hipkiss was similarly upbeat about the project, setting it in the context of the firms wider growth plans.
“We believe that our particle engineering technology is potentially transformational in enabling the development of novel inhaled combination therapies that deliver significant clinical benefits.
“Following the recent second close of our £17.1M financing, we believe we are very well placed now to drive the development of our unique MCPs into the clinic.”
