IP for Medicine
A better delivery for better medicine
It's not easy getting our bodies to absorb medicines. Some drugs are affected by our age, sex, diet or even the temperature and time of day. Many costly new medicines are simply abandoned due to poor solubility or other difficulties delivering the drug.
Nearly 40% of new medicines are poorly water soluble and not easily absorbed by the body. Ceridia, an Australian start-up, is commercialising a novel method of reformulating such problem drugs in fatty drops encapsulated in tiny silica structures with large surface areas (something like a honeycomb). Once dried, the resulting powder has some remarkable properties.
Known as LipoCeramics (TM), the invention makes drugs more effective, stable, and readily absorbed by the body. It also helps reduce the time it takes to get new medicines to market. With many drugs costing over $1 Billion to develop, time is money. Gregor Rozenberg CEO of Ceridia says the patent protection around LipoCeramics (TM) is vital for his ambitious capital raising targets.
'The patent portfolio covers the preparation and release of drugs, as well as specific applications like oral and dermal delivery. For a start-up company the enormous size of this market can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge we are ready to take on. IP protection is essential for commercial viability.'
Commercialisation requires tough decisions about the role of the inventor, and whether the IP should be licensed. In this instance, Professor Clive Prestidge and his team developed the invention while working at the Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia. The University owns the patents and created a new privately owned entity (Ceridia) via ITEK (UniSA's commercialisation arm). ITEK then licensed the patents to Ceridia and took a substantial equity investment in the start up. Professor Prestidge, continues his involvement as Chief Technology Officer for Ceridia.
This is a significant endeavour, but Mark Bruce, ITEK's Project Manager, notes this is the ninth spin off company for the University. 'Commercialisation requires specific skills, incentives and risk management strategies that are completely different to making the original invention. Ceridia is barely a year old and already working with several pharmaceutical companies on reformulating existing and new drugs.'
Future patents will benefit patients
A key strategy for commercialisation is the reformulation of generic drugs. In the next few years, patents will expire for many 'blockbuster' drugs worth billions of dollars. Professor Prestidge says while cheaper generic versions will soon be available, patients can greatly benefit from new patented reformulations with improved performance.
'We're working with researchers at the RoyalAdelaideHospital to transform the way chemotherapy is administered. Currently some patients have to sit for 2-3 hours with a needle in their arm while litres of fluid are infused into their bloodstream. Wouldn't it be great if they could just take a few tablets at home?'
Stabilised microcapsules filled with drug and oil
Microcapsules can then be formed into tablets
Gregor Rosenberg, Ceridia CEO
You can read more information about Patents.
Last Updated: 24/12/2012
