Genzyme Pharmaceuticals
Genzyme Pharmaceuticals, a business unit of Genzyme Corporation, and SurModics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., have a broad collaboration to develop novel drug delivery solutions, with an initial focus on peptide delivery. The partnership offers customized solutions for parenteral formulations by combining expertise in design for peptide delivery, peptide synthesis, and drug delivery technologies.
The ‘Design for Peptide DeliverySM’ approach optimizes peptide physical and chemical properties early on in drug development, so as to match a peptide with the properties of microparticles, implants and other drug delivery formulations required for optimal drug delivery. Combining the capabilities and knowledge of Genzyme Pharmaceuticalsand SurModics in parallel with design of peptide and delivery systems result in clients developing sophisticated pharmaceutical products that benefit the patient.
In the longer term, such as long-acting parenterals, many new and important drug delivery technologies such as long-acting parenterals may be developed from the portfolio of novel materials and technologies owned by Genzyme Pharmaceuticals and SurModics.
Rather than promoting a specific technology, the SurModics-Genzyme Pharmaceuticals Collaboration offers customers a solution-oriented approach to peptide formulation through synergistic capabilities and technologies, depending on the peptide and the customer's target drug profile. Customers will also benefit from enhanced capabilities and services such as research-scale peptide synthesis for backbone and side chain modifications, evaluation of available drug delivery technologies, large-scale peptide drug substance production, formulation feasibility studies and development of microencapsulation processes, drug excipients manufacturing (phospholipids, polymers and biomaterials), drug product formulation, and manufacturing of clinical supplies and final drug delivery product.
About Genzyme Pharmaceuticals
Genzyme Pharmaceuticals works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the development and manufacture of specialty pharmaceutical materials and drug delivery technologies. Its technologies, products and services are focused primarily in the peptide, amino acid derivative, lipid and drug delivery markets. Genzyme Pharmaceuticals offers two novel drug delivery technologies. LipoBridge® is an innovative technology specifically designed to facilitate transport of drug compounds across the blood brain barrier (BBB) and into the Central Nervous System (CNS). LipoMask® is designed to increase the circulation half life of drug substances in blood.
For further information, see www.d4pd.com
Aeon Bioscience
SurModics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Targeted Technology Ventures, LLC announced the creation of a collaborative joint venture—Aeon Bioscience, Inc.—a company which is developing a new drug-eluting stent. The goal of the novel stent will be to overcome the current concerns of late stent thrombosis, or blood clot formation at or near the site of the stent and vessel closure due to formation of scar tissue, known as restenosis.Aeon Bioscience is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
The combined strengths of the two parent companies give Aeon a strong development team with a proven track record in biodegradable materials, drug delivery, vascular stent engineering, clinical testing and regulatory registrations. SurModics and TTV also bring strong skills in management of intellectual property portfolios, and access to recognized scientific and medical leaders.
About Restenosis and Late Stent Thrombosis
One of the most significant medical advances in the treatment of cardiovascular disease has been the use of stents—tiny metal, mesh-like tubes that are inserted to keep arteries open following artery-clearing procedures such as angioplasty. One complication to stenting is restenosis (thickening of the artery caused by the healing response at the stent site) which occurs in up to 25% of cases, and often results in a costly re-intervention. New drug eluting stents (DES) have markedly decreased the problem of restenosis. These metal stents are coated with non-resorbable plastic polymers that contain cellular growth-inhibiting drugs that elute into the surrounding vessel wall and prevent thickening of the vessel wall. Recent clinical evidence suggests that patients who receive DES may have higher rates of late stent thrombosis (clot formation at or near the site of the stent) than those treated with bare metal stents, a problem attributed at least in part to the inability of the body to heal the vessel wall over the polymer coatings currently used to deliver the drug. More than 50 percent of patients who develop late-stent thrombosis experience either an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) or death.
About Targeted Technology Ventures, LLC
Targeted Technology Ventures, LLC is a biotechnology and medical device company focused on translating important research innovations into the medical marketplace. Targeted Technology's management team and group of advisors have an extensive and productive history in evaluating, financing, creating and commercializing technologies for significant medical needs.
Targeted Technology’s approach is to identify promising technologies at the early stages of implementation and define a clear product development, intellectual property, regulatory, and marketing program as a prerequisite to participation. We actively manage portfolio companies through each stage of development by providing the research methodology, business expertise and network of financial, clinical, regulatory, and industry partnerships to help build solid organizations and accelerate their success.
Targeted Technology’s innovative strategy has been successfully applied to the development of a range of diagnostic, pharmaceutical and medical device products, with a particular emphasis in launching new technologies and devices for cardiovascular disease.