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 Profile Detail
Bioavailability Boosting Technologies (10 US 87GA 3IEJ)
A large US company is looking for proposals for chemical, biochemical or biological agents that can increase the bioavailability of phenylephrine in humans. They are interested in technology acquisition, licensing, contract research, proof of concept leading to scale up to manufacturing, joint development and supplier agreement.
Country: United States
Type: REQUEST
Date: 26.08.2010
Phenylephrine (PE) is rapidly metabolized by the upper gastrointestinal tract (e.g. sulfation and glucuronidation) into non-active derivatives.
The company seeks technologies that significantly increase the amount of biologically active PE by possibly conferring protective effects (sacrificial or otherwise) to PE in the intestine or, by facilitating transport of PE paracellularly through the stomach or, act in another way that would be safe to humans.
It is believed that observations or insights from pharmacologists, physiologists, nutritionists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, drug discovery researchers or drug formulators, among others, who may have witnessed an effect with certain compounds or combinations of compounds, might be exploited to somehow increase the bioavailability of PE.
The request Sponsor is interested in any bioavailability enhancing technology that might be applicable to PE.
Possible technologies or substances that could promote increased bioavailability might include, but are not limited to:
- Novel excipients, coatings, additives, etc.
- Nanoencapsulation strategies
- Permeation enhancers
- Surfactants
- Solubility enhancers
- Functional foods
- Probiotics
- Herbal extracts
- Polymers.
The following approaches are not of interest:
- New/alternative drug candidate development
- Prodrugs and polymer conjugates
- Non-oral approaches
- Purely conceptual approaches not supported by compelling data or a good clear scientific rationale.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
Candidate technologies will likely either:
1. Increase absorption of PE (Phenylephrine) by the stomach or
2. Reduce PE metabolism by the intestine
The successful technology will also:
- Be novel and command strong intellectual property protection
- Be GRAS or is likely to be so within 3 years
- Be scalable for over the counter (OTC) applications
- Have, even if only limited, supporting safety and efficacy data.
Solution Providers who have had or plan to have at least preliminary discussions with a regulatory agency are highly desirable.
Degree of development:
Patents/Rights:
Requested Cooperation: License Agreement, Absolutely novel process, Joint further development, Testing of new applications
Responses from companies (large or small, startups, etc.), hospital or academic researchers, contract research institutes, pharmacologists, nutritionists, medicinal chemists, drug formulators, biochemists, physiologists, alternative or traditional medicine providers, etc., from around the world are all welcome.
The company is a leading pharmaceutical company with significant experience and resources to co-develop promising agents into successful products.
Arrangements where intellectual property is already secured by the Responder or can be co-developed such that exclusive use in the intended market can be obtained is highly desirable.
In exchange for financially supporting the development of any new technology for application to PE, the company would expect some exclusivity or freedom of use provisions. For more developed solutions to this need, other suitable arrangements that could secure supply or exclusivity will be entertained accordingly.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES OR PROJECT PLAN
The company will review all submitted proposals and select those that show most promise for direct engagement to further vet candidates for a formal technology evaluation. Although rapid preliminary exploratory discussions may be non-confidential, any in-depth discussion or exchange of material samples or enabling information is expected to occur under appropriate MTA/NDA safeguards.
In a first phase, review of any existing data supporting claims including safety would be expected, followed by independent or in-house testing/evaluation. Promising outcomes will be pursued accordingly.
Note that this profile requires a convincing solution proposal. Please contact your local EEN to get the Response template and find more information on the specific process here: http://www.us-eu-match.com/index.cfm?action=processFlow
Type of Organisation:
Status: NEW
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