UCLB signs exclusive global licence with Oxford Pharmascience

UCLB signs exclusive global licence with Oxford Pharmascience for colonic delivery of statins

UCLB  has entered into an exclusive licence agreement with Oxford Pharmascience Group PLC to develop and commercialise reformulation of statin molecules using the proprietary colon delivery technology (Phloral^TM) developed by researchers at UCL School of Pharmacy.

Following a successful collaborative evaluation project the company has established the feasibility of the delivery system with these drugs and has undertaken a commercial evaluation to identify the potential for a range of statin products which it is launching under its Safestat™program.

Two statin products will be developed using the UCL technology, incorporating the widely prescribed off-patent drugs atorvastatin and simvastatin.  Safestat™ aims to re-formulate these drugs into doses up to four times lower than the original dose which retain equivalent lipid lowering efficacy. Early research into the concept has been extremely well received by both clinicians and healthcare payers alike.

Nigel Theobald, Chief Executive, Oxford Pharmascience Group Plc, commented: “Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide and statins have become widely adopted as a key drug to help combat this. Despite statins being well established debate is ongoing about their benefit compared to the issues caused by side effects of statins and the lack of compliance in patients taking these medicines often results in cholesterol reduction targets being missed”.

Bill Lindsay, Senior Business Manager for UCLB commented: “We are very pleased to establish this licence with Oxford Pharmascience following a successful evaluation project. We believe that the Phloral^TM technology represents the most effective and practical means available to deliver molecules to the colon and we look forward to working further with Oxford Pharmascience to bring these novel products to the market”.

For further information, please contact Dr Bill Lindsay, Senior Business Manager. Email: b.lindsay@uclb.com

About UCLB
UCLB is a leading technology transfer company that supports and commercialises research and innovations arising from UCL, one of the UK’s top research-led universities. UCLB has a successful track record and a strong reputation for identifying and protecting promising new technologies and innovations from UCL academics. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from the laboratory to market. UCLB supports UCL’s Grand Challenges of increasing UCL’s positive impact on and contribution to Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing.

For further information, please visit: www.uclb.com

About UCL School of Pharmacy
UCL School of Pharmacy is one of the most highly rated pharmacy schools in the UK. We have a long tradition of academic and research excellence. Founded by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1842 to ‘elevate the profession of pharmacy by furnishing the means of proper instruction’, we have successfully evolved to meet the changing demands of the education and pharmacy sectors for 170 years. Our ability to embrace change and develop has been a key factor in our longevity and, although we draw extensively upon our heritage and tradition, we are continually pushing our research forward into the future.

For further information, please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/pharmacy

About Oxford Pharmascience Group PLC (OXP)
Founded in February 2008 by a team of entrepreneurs with former corporate experience in consumer healthcare, we have established a platform of core technologies and products by acquisition, in-house development and in-licensing. OXP develops platform technologies that have application across multiple drug categories and can be leveraged across a broad range of reformulation problems.

For further information, please visit: www.oxfordpharmascience.com