Dutch companies to partner on a novel drug delivery platform
Two Dutch drug delivery companies - Octoplus, of Leiden, and InnoCore Technologies, of Groningen - have entered into a collaboration to develop and market a novel injectable drug delivery platform.
Two Dutch drug delivery companies - Octoplus, of Leiden, and InnoCore Technologies, of Groningen - have entered into a collaboration to develop and market a novel injectable drug delivery platform.
The platform is based on SynBiosys, a biodegradable polymeric system that enables development of controlled release formulations of peptides and small molecules. It complements OctoPlus's existing drug delivery platforms, PolyActive and OctoDEX. With these three platforms, OctoPlus is able to develop tailor-made controlled release formulations for all classes of injectable drug compounds.
SynBiosys is a patent-pending biodegradable multi-block copolymer system that is fully based on well-known and regulatory approved building blocks, such as lactide, glycolide, caprolactone and PEG. Its biodegradability, biocompatibility and easily programmable release characteristics make it an suitable platform for the controlled release of peptides and small molecules.
In initial studies, it was shown to be feasible to develop a 6-months release formulation of a peptide based on the SynBiosys polymer that shows true zero-order kinetics without initial burst release. It has further been demonstrated that the polymers can be made into various product configurations, such as coatings, membranes, microspheres and gels.
SynBiosys is currently under pre-clinical evaluation by InnoCore Technologies for use as a biodegradable drug eluting coronary stent coating and drug-eluting implant.
'The SynBiosys system clearly complements our existing polymer platforms PolyActive and OctoDEX ,' said Dr Joost J.M. Holthuis, president and ceo of OctoPlus. 'What makes us unique with this agreement is that we can offer controlled release platforms for almost any injectable drug compound.'