TouchSprayTM Technology
A new advance in drug delivery from ODEM
LIMITED
Cambridge (ots)
The pulmonary and nasal routes have long been considered a potentially excellent and pain free alternative for the administration of drugs which currently have to be given via a needle. The goal of maximising these routes received a recent boost with the introduction of TouchSprayTM Technology which is capable of generating precisely controlled aerosols of therapeutically beneficial drugs. TouchSprayTM Technology's precision control of aerosols generation will facilitate optimal drug absorption in the relevant pulmonary and nasal regions.
This innovative technology has been licensed to a new joint venture company, ODEM, for pulmonary and nasal inhaler applications.
Three companies have joined forces to form ODEM - Bespak, a leading manufacturer of drug delivery systems and one of the largest volume suppliers of inhalers; PARI GmbH a market leader in the supply of nebulisers and The Technology Partnership (TTP), Europe's leading independent technology development company.
The combination of electronic control, precise droplet size and low droplet velocity enables TouchSprayTM Technology to deliver therapeutically beneficial drugs deep into the lungs in a consistent and efficient manner. TouchSprayTM Technology is suitable for the treatment of diseases local to the lung (e.g. Asthma and COPD) as well as for the systemic delivery of compounds, which previously had to be administered via a needle. Drugs such as insulin for the treatment of diabetes and other proteins/peptides for the treatment of cancer, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C and other specific conditions could all be administered to the patient via the lung and in certain cases the nose, using TouchSprayTM Technology.
ODEM has appointed Dr Jonathan Smart as Head of Commercial Development. He joins ODEM after spending 14 years working for leading international pharmaceutical companies both in the technical and commercial areas. Dr Smart will be responsible for the development of partnerships with leading pharmaceutical an biotech companies.
Commenting on the potential for TouchSprayTM Technology, Jonathan Smart said: "The systemic delivery of compounds through the lung has always been seen as an excellent alternative to the invasive parenteral route. TouchSprayTM Technology has the potential to unlock this route with its ability to precisely and efficiently deliver suitable aerosolised drugs deep into the lung. It is an extremely efficient and innovative method of delivery that will revolutionise the treatment of certain diseases."
Talking about the scope of ODEM, Gaynor Fryers, Commercial Director at Bespak, said: "The depth of our experience at Bespak in device development for the inhalation market and experience in developing commercially viable devices for full-scale manufacture will be available to the joint venture as will the invaluable an complementary expertise of PARI and TTP."
"This combination of expertise and experience, really is formidable and, when you put that together with a breakthrough such as TouchSprayTM Technology, it is really a very exciting development."
Dr Martin Knoch, Managing Director of PARI GmbH, said: "Right now PARI and TTP are developing an advanced electronic nebuliser system based on TouchSprayTM Technology. ODEM will receive immediate benefit from this through early recognition of the new technology an the market and the experience and knowledge that has already been built up. PARI look forward to contributing their R & D and market expertise to this challenging new enterprise."
"As a part of our on-going strategy of creating new technology based business," commented Dr David Parnell, a director of TTP, "TTP has invested many man-years of development in TouchSprayTM Technology and the creation of ODEM will enable a whole generation of drug delivery devices to be brought to the healthcare market."
Bespak, TTP and PARI will all have equal shares in the new joint venture, with Gaynor Fryers, Commercial Director at Bespak, David Parnell, Director at TTP and Martin Knoch, Managing Director at PARI GmbH becoming directors of ODEM.
Background
Bespak plc ha sits main production facility in King's Lynn and additional plants in Milton Keynes and the USA. The company is in the forefront of developing new delivery systems for the pharmaceutical industry. It has a product range covering metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, actuator and spacer systems, as well as specialist components and assemblies for the medical device industry. Bespak will provide the industrialisation and manufacturing expertise in high volume automated moulding and assembly for the ODEM products and certain product development activities.
Bespak UK headquarters are based in Bergen Way, King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Phone +44 (0) 1553 691000 Fax +44 (0) 1553 693728 E-mail: technologies@bespak.co.uk Internet: www.bespak.com
PARI GmbH is a third-generation family-owned German company that is run jointly by Dr Zimmermann, who heads up the commercial side of the business and Dr Martin Knoch who is the company's technical head. The company specialises in the development, manufacture and sales of sophisticated nebulisers and compressors that are particularly applicable to the treatment of seriously ill and home-based patients who require high dosage of medication. PARI will provide ODEM with the manufacturing expertise for the atomizing heads of ODEM's products and play a role in product development.
PARI GmbH headquarters are located in Moosstrasse 9 D-82319 Starnberg/Germany.
Phone +49 (8151) 279 - 0 Fax +49 (8151) 279 - 101 Internet: www.pari.de
The Technology Partnership plc (TTP) is Europe's major independent product development company providing a continuous stream of new products for the world's largest companies as well as the smallest and most ambitious TTP develops and supplies systems for both the manufacturing and testing of pharmaceuticals as well as for drug discovery and drug delivery. TTP will provide development expertise for customised atomizing heads and inhaler product design.
TTP is located at Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road, Melbourn, Royston Herts SG8 6EE.
Phone +44 (0) 1763 262626 Fax +44 (0) 1763 261582 Internet: www.ttpgroup.com
Contact:
Dr Jonathan Smart
ODEM Limited
Melbourne Science Park
Cambridge Road, Melbourn
Royston, Herts
SG8 6EE
Phone +44 1763 266200
Fax +44 1763 266290
E-mail: jrs@odem.co.uk
Internet: www.odem.co.uk
D/A/CH : Pharma, Gesundheit