Prosonix collaboration to speed up development of respiratory medicines

UK-based speciality pharmaceutical company Prosonix has signed a collaborative research agreement with Imperial College London to accelerate the development of engineered Multi-component Particles (MCPs) as respiratory medicines.

Prosonix, which is developing a portfolio of inhaled respiratory medicines enabled by its state-of-the-art particle engineering technology, will be working closely with Dr Omar Usmani, an internationally recognised expert in respiratory diseases and inhaled drug delivery at the College’s National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI). Its aim is to develop a deeper understanding of how MCPs can be translated into new respiratory medicines with significant clinical benefits compared with existing combination formulations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Results from the collaboration are intended to accelerate the development of Prosonix’ PSX2000 MCP Series of novel combination medicines, with the aim of advancing one or more MCP candidates into formal preclinical/proof of concept studies in 2013.

Prosonix’ drug particle engineering approach and expertise has enabled the development of MCPs that combine two active respiratory drug molecules consistently in a pre-determined ratio in each and every particle in the formulation, without the need for additional excipients. The scope of the collaboration is to investigate MCPs in in vitro and in vivo models of the lung. It will also compare key performance criteria, including synergistic effects in reducing inflammation and improving bronchodilation resulting from co-localisation of active drug components, with other combination formulations including marketed combination products.

Excipient-free, drug-only MCPs engineered by Prosonix that will be evaluated in the project include: inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with long-acting beta-agonist (LABA); and LABAs with long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA).

‘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,’ said Dr Usmani. ‘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.’

‘We believe that our particle engineering technology is potentially transformational in enabling the development of novel inhaled combination therapies that deliver significant clinical benefits,’ added Prosonix ceo David Hipkiss. ‘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.’