BioMed X has announced a research project with Janssen Research & Development, which will strive to discover novel transport mechanisms in the human intestinal tract to enable oral delivery of diverse therapeutic modalities. Biologics such as monoclonal antibodies need to be delivered by injection, which may have higher barriers to use compared to oral delivery, the companies say.
Christian Tidona, founder and MD of the BioMed X Institute said: “There are several techniques available to shield these macromolecules from the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, but little progress has been made to translocate complex macromolecules across the intestinal epithelial barrier into systemic circulation. This project has the potential to provide us with a novel delivery platform that enables the development of a new generation of oral immunotherapies.”
The current call for application targets early-career biomedical researchers with an outstanding track record or strong interest in the field of drug delivery. For the funded research project, the BioMed X Institute intends to hire one group leader, two postdoctoral researchers, and two research assistants.
As part of the online application procedure, interested candidates are requested to submit a competitive project proposal. After a first selection round, candidates will be invited to a five-day innovation boot camp in Heidelberg. If pandemic regulations do not allow onsite meetings, the boot camp will take place online.
