BASF to develop high purity poloxamer for Mast Therapeutics

BASF will partner San Diego, CA, US-based Mast Therapeutics in the development of a higher purity version of poloxamer 188, a material that is widely used in pharmaceutical and biological applications, such as a shear protectant in cell culture production.

Although poloxamer 188 is 'the starting material for Mast’s lead product candidate', BASF will produce an even higher purity product for Mast to use for specific therapeutic indications.

Mast is developing a second-generation poloxamer called vepoloxamer (also known as MST-188) for serious or life-threatening diseases and conditions typically characterised by impaired microvascular blood flow and damaged cell membranes in patients with sickle cell disease.

'The work we are doing with Mast is one example of our collaborations with pharmaceutical companies to develop high purity poloxamers for a variety of applications for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology value chains,' said Daniele Piergentili, Head of Global Marketing and R&D, BASF Pharma Ingredients and Services.

'Our work with Mast will enable them to develop new products intended to treat patients with life-threatening illnesses.'

Brian Culley, Chief Executive of Mast, added: 'We believe that our relationship with BASF will enable us to develop an improved product with application in a variety of therapeutic indications.

'We already have been successful in advancing a second-generation poloxamer 188, known as vepoloxamer, which is being tested in a 388-patient clinical trial in sickle cell disease, and we are excited to explore further improvements in this class of compounds to treat other serious or life-threatening conditions, such as heart failure and stroke.'