Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos announced their joint nanotechnology center in São Paulo, Brazil. Focused exclusively on nanotechnology research and development, the center forms the first phase in a long term collaboration to optimize patient care through enhanced drug delivery systems and product solutions.
The Nanotechnology Innovation Laboratory Enterprise (NILE) center and associated research program will explore nanotechnology to advance the delivery characteristics of existing medicines, create novel devices and find new formulations for poorly soluble drugs. For example, for patients who currently receive treatment by injection, this new technology has the potential to transform their ongoing care with new oral options. Researchers will investigate how nanotechnology might improve the bioavailability, efficacy and safety profile of oral medicines, and alleviate any unwanted toxicity resulting from non-specific distribution.
Initial research projects will utilize each company’s therapeutic strengths. Ferring will provide expertise on peptides and proteins in reproductive medicine and women’s health, gastroenterology and urology, and Aché will provide knowledge on how to expedite the development of new therapeutic entities with different technical properties.
“Using nanotechnology to administer peptide and protein-based medicines orally could be a significant step forward for the ease of delivery for this important class of drugs,” said Alan Harris, Senior Vice President, R&D, Ferring Pharmaceuticals. “Ferring’s pioneering work in reproductive medicine and women’s health is devoted to providing next generation solutions that improve outcomes and better serve the needs of our patients. If we can provide patients with more convenient dosing, we will help to improve adherence and ensure that patients receive the greatest benefit from treatment.”
The NILE centre is anticipated to be a global hub for future drug discovery and development. The inauguration ceremony brought together leading experts from the field of nanotechnology as well as dignitaries from the Ministry of Health of Brazil and government officials.