Quay Pharma, in partnership with Glyndwyr University in Wrexham, UK, has received a KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) Award to fund the development of a novel formulation to aid the oral administration of medicines to paediatric and geriatric patients.
The Welsh Government and the Technology Strategy Board supplied the funding.
Quay Pharma, based on Deeside, Flintshire, UK, is a provider of contract formulation and clinical trials manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. Services include early stage (pre-clinical) formulation development, novel drug delivery design, analytical R&D development, stability testing, and clinical trial manufacture and packaging of new drug compounds.
Quay has particular expertise in oral dosage form design and semi solids formulation development, in particular for drugs that exhibit poor solubility and bio-availability.
With the requirement that new drug developments take into account paediatric dosing and the fact that the number of people over 65 in the UK is forecast to grow by 65% in the next 25 years, finding drug delivery solutions that are adapted specifically for these populations is becoming more critical.
Quay chose to work with Professor Peter Williams at the Glyndwr University, Centre for Water Soluble Polymers, due to the department’s extensive knowledge of polymer and colloid chemistry gathered from working with many industries including food, biotechnology and pharmaceutical.
Using the department’s experience in surface chemistry and polymer characterisation, together with its own formulation expertise, Quay aims to develop a novel, semi-solid dosage form that is easy to dose using a spoon or other dosing medium, as well as being easy to swallow.
The project aims to achieve a platform technology that can be used to administer various active drug products or combinations.
‘This is an important project that will deliver benefits throughout the pharmaceutical industry,’ said Quay Pharma CEO Maireadh Pedersen.
‘Finding an easier dosing form for geriatric and paediatric medicines offers huge opportunities for future drug development. We are delighted to be working with Glyndwr University to help make this a reality and the KTP funding will provide invaluable support.’