UCLB launches Intract Pharma Ltd

UCL Business PLC (UCLB) is pleased to announce the creation of Intract Pharma Limited (“Intract”), a company specialising in the oral delivery of pharmaceutical products.

Intract is centered on the research of its founding scientist, Professor Abdul Basit from the UCL School of Pharmacy, and will develop and license the patented drug delivery technologies invented within his research group. Intract’s technologies allow drugs to be delivered to specific sites in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract, for example its PhloralÒ technology can deliver drugs specifically to the colon. Cycle Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company that optimises and increases access to existing pharmaceuticals, has invested in Intract.

Professor Basit commented: “Controlled release of oral pharmaceuticals is important. We can tackle a vast range of diseases better if we can design when and where a drug is released in the GI tract, and absorbed into the bloodstream. I am pleased that Intract has been formed around our patented technologies and I am certain that these technologies can assist many pharmaceutical companies in achieving their product aims.”

James Harrison, CEO of Cycle Pharmaceuticals, commented: “We are pleased to support the creation of Intract. Cycle is building a drug repurposing portfolio and these projects typically require a new formulation in order to achieve the new use for the target drug. Having compared Intract’s controlled release technologies to others in the marketplace, we firmly believe that Intract’s portfolio of technologies are world-class, and will be of real value in the generation of new medicines.”

Cengiz Tarhan, Managing Director of UCLB, said:  “UCLB is delighted that Intract has secured investment from Cycle Pharmaceuticals to advance its novel oral delivery technologies developed by Professor Basit and his team. I would also take this opportunity to thank Dr Bill Lindsay, our Senior Business Manager who led this initiative on behalf of UCLB, and who will be joining the Intract team shortly.  We look forward to continuing to work with Intract to make it a success”.

Please contact Intract through www.intractpharma.com if you would like to discuss its pharmaceutical technologies.

About Intract Pharma Limited
Intract Pharma Limited is a company specialising in the oral delivery of pharmaceutical products, it offers licences to its proprietary oral drug delivery technologies (Phloral®, ProRelease® and Duocoat®) to drug development companies to optimise delivery and uptake. Intract additionally offers access to its proprietary in vitro assay systems which allow comprehensive understanding of anticipated drug performance in vivo following delivery through the GI route.

For more information, please visit: www.intractpharma.com

About UCL Business PLC
UCL Business PLC (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. UCLB has a strong track record in commercialising medical technologies and provides technology transfer services to UCL’s associated hospitals; University College London Hospitals, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Royal Free London Hospital. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from laboratory to market.

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

About Cycle Pharmaceuticals
Cycle Pharmaceuticals is a Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company that optimises and increases access to existing pharmaceuticals.

Specifically, Cycle focuses on three areas of pharmaceutical development:

• Improving orphan drugs, which treat the under-served rare disease patient community;
• Reinstating drug products that have been previously marketed;
• Working with our academic and other partners to extend pharmaceuticals to new medical areas where there is clear unmet need.

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